Instead, it had everything to do with an on the court incident that did not involve players, but rather a group of children within the crowd. Seemingly, they weren’t huge fans of the 2-possession game entering the final minutes of the matchup.

At the 1:34 mark in the second half, children can be seen throwing mini basketballs onto the court. That’s one way to get the crowd involved, one could say.

Here’s a look at the moment, in which Fairfield was leading Iowa, 62-57. Of course, the game had to be halted and the culprits in the crowd had their moment on some quality TV.

Iona entered the game with a 5-10 overall record, while Fairfield held a 5-9 overall record. It was the Stags that ultimately came away with the close 68-64 victory on their home court. Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out for both teams, one thing that is almost for certain is that neither of them will encounter anything quite like what they experienced when it rained mini basketballs on Friday evening.

Fairfield will move forward on the schedule with a road matchup against Marist on Sunday a 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 12.

The post College basketball game halted by kids hilariously throwing mini basketballs appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And he equally did not care for it when Texas Longhorns wide receiver Isaiah Bond jumped to catch a pass from quarterback Quinn Ewers in the second quarter that resulted in one of the most painfully terrible drops we’ve seen in a long time. In Herbstreit’s defense, some of Smith’s drops were equally as bad, as the wideout was a part of quite literally the worst wide receiving corps in the FBS when it came to dropping passes.

But, while most are arguing that it was inexcusable for Bond to have dropped a pass that appeared to go right into his hands, other have argued that it was a poor throw by Ewers.

Here’s a look at what social media had to say about the play.

The post Kirk Herbstreit catches flack for analysis of drop by Texas WR Isaiah Bond appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Ewers struggled early on through the contest, having completed 5 of his 8 passing attempts for 75 yards by the time it was the top of the second quarter. Texas trailed Ohio State, 7-0 at that point, but the way the momentum was shifted in the Buckeyes’ favor at that point felt a lot more lopsided.

Social media had plenty to say about the way Ewers kicked things off, with some calling for Manning to take the field. That’s something that, if not in this game, they will see in the very near future after Ewers told Pete Thamel of ESPN that he was headed to the 2025 NFL Draft. If things keep up this way, it does not seem that he will be sorely missed in Austin. One of the biggest complaints, which was quite valid, is the way he was performing poorly when he was pressured.

That’s something that will need to be remedied quickly in order for Texas to have a legitimate chance to punch its ticket to the CFP national title game.

The post Arch Manning time? Fans call for former 5-star following early Quinn Ewers struggles appeared first on Saturday Down South.

McAfee seems to have a particular disdain for Texas, as this is far from the first time that he has done this, also doing the gesture when Texas played Georgia and Oklahoma in the past. Here’s a look at the moment from Friday — and McAfee was not alone at all as every analyst on the “College Gameday” set chose the Buckeyes to come out with the victory in Arlington, Texas.

This is a game that many expect to come down to the wire, and the way that ESPN drew it up pregame was nothing short of interesting. Curiously enough, ESPN’s FPI gave the Longhorns a slim edge with a 50.6% chance of victory. However, ESPN Bet had listed Ohio State as a -5.5 favorite.

The Buckeyes have put up a convincing case for themselves with a statement made in their 41-21 trouncing of formerly No. 1-ranked Oregon in which quarterback Will Howard and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith jived in a way that was practically unstoppable. Texas comes off of a much closer victory after the Longhorns slid past the Arizona State Sun Devils, 39-31 in overtime.

The winner of Friday’s contest between the Buckeyes and the Longhorns will advance to the CFP national title game in Atlanta, Georgia to face Notre Dame.

The post Pat McAfee delivers Horns down while picking Ohio State to win Cotton Bowl  appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That was first reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Tom Murphy on Friday. He will replace a recently departed Deron Wilson, who moved up the career ladder as he accepted the defensive coordinator position at Georgia State in early January.

With the move, Perry will go from serving as the defensive quality control coach for the Seattle Seahawks to working with the Razorbacks’ defensive backs group. He will have a lot of work to do to get the Razorbacks up to par as a unit where Perry will be coaching, considering that Arkansas allowed an average of 246.9 passing yards per game last season, which was near the bottom of the FBS at No. 110 overall. They also ranked 32nd in the nation in passing yards allowed per game (202.8) in 2024.

Perry comes from a strong background that has given him a solid foundation to do just that, though, starting his career off by working as a GA under the legendary Nick Saban at Alabama for the 2017-18 seasons. He then served as an Alabama defensive analyst (2019-20), the Atlanta Falcons defensive backs coach (2021-22) and Falcons wide receivers coach (2023) before arriving to the Seahawks, who he now seems prepared to depart.

He also played defensive back for the Crimson Tide and was a member of Alabama’s 2010 and 2011 national championship teams.

Arkansas has not yet announced Perry’s hiring.

The post Arkansas expected to name former Alabama DB Nick Perry as secondary coach appeared first on Saturday Down South.

This marks the third destination of his college career for the 6-foot-2, 192-pounder. He hopped on the freshman scene with the Michigan State Spartans in 2020, leading the squad in rushing yards with a total of 219 with 56 Carries (second-highest on the team).

He’s officially signed with Ole Miss, according to On3’s Pete Nakos:

Simmons, a junior, finished out the season with 110 carries for 664 yards with a pair of touchdowns, also reeling in 21 receptions for 183 yards. He’ll be able to contribute greatly not only to the ground game in Oxford, but clearly is a versatile asset out of the backfield for the team as well.

Simmons had 3 contests in which he surpassed the century mark in rushing total as one of the most important players on Akron’s offense.

It will be interesting to see how he’s able to raise his stock as he joins a team known for offensive mastermind Lane Kiffin and his high-scoring system that so many players have done numbers in. If he thrives in the SEC against tougher competition, there’s no question his draft stock will skyrocket.

Simmons has 1 year of eligibility remaining.

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The post Ole Miss lands veteran running back Jordon Simmons via transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

While the Gamecocks came out of the gate with some life in this one, they were quickly tamed by the Crimson Tide. Alabama went on an 8-0 run to close out the first half and had the solid 45-28 lead at that point.

The momentum was fully in their favor and never swung back in South Carolina’s direction with the second half started up. But South Carolina did show a lot of fight down that stretch, keeping things close as the Gamecocks were outscored 43-40 by the Tide after the break. That obviously did not prove enough for them to overcome the deficit that had been left at halftime that put the team too far behind to recover from.

Good offense was key to South Carolina staying in the game with Jacobi Wright (20), Jamarii Thomas (15) and Zach Davis (10) finishing out the game as the leading scorers. For Alabama, Mark Sears led the way by scoring 22 points for the Tide.

Alabama will look to stay hot as it faces the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies on the road Saturday.

The post Alabama picks up first SEC road win with blowout victory over South Carolina appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With the move, he will reunite with Rhett Lashlee, who was with him at Miami. He will be back with D’Eriq King as well, who he played with in Coral Gables. King is SMU’s quarterbacks coach.

Missing multiple games due to injury, Van Dyke finished out the 2024 season with a 63.2% completion percentage, passing for 422 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He had a decent amount of success in his time with Lashlee, recording the best season of his career in 2021 though he wasn’t able to consistently stack performances due to the injuries that kept him sidelined sporadically.

Under Lashlee, Van Dyke completed roughly 62% of his passes for 2,931 yards with 25 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Nearing the end of his college football career with eventual NFL Draft aspirations, Van Dyke will aim to stay healthy and reach the same heights he did under Lashlee the first time in a new spot.

The post Tyler Van Dyke, former Miami QB, signs with SMU appeared first on Saturday Down South.

While there has not been any true controversy of merit, there is the question of if Ewers would lose the starting job to Arch Manning and if such a development would prompt him to enter the transfer portal. And furthermore, there have also been rumors that tampering has been at an all-time high with Ewers, who was reportedly offered $6 million to leave Texas.

It does not seem he is concerned with the outside noise surrounding that topic.

His sights are set on the Cotton Bowl and the Cotton Bowl only.

“I mean, right now, I’m just, I’m just not worried about all that stuff,” Ewers said when he was asked about the rumors. “I mean, people can say all they want to say, but, you know, I’m just focused on focus on Friday at this point in time.”

The Longhorns and the Buckeyes are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

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The post Quinn Ewers comments on transfer rumors ahead of Ohio State game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Ray had a successful season in 2024, reeling in 28 receptions for 426 yards with 4 touchdowns for the Mountaineers.

Here’s his announcement:

Ray joins a wide receiver room that includes several new faces in the portal, considering this has been such a position of need for the Rebels. There are four new wideouts obtained by the portal, including Deuce Alexander (Wake Forest), Caleb Odom (Alabama) and De’Zhaun Stripling (Oklahoma State).

It will be interesting to watch how he ultimately fits in with the scheme under Lane Kiffin in his high-flying offense, where Ray will have a huge change to achieve a high level of production. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has two years of eligibility remaining.

Ole Miss has landed 16 transfer commitments so far this offseason. The group ranks No. 3 nationally, per 247Sports Composite rankings.

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The post Ole Miss lands ex-WVU WR Traylon Ray via transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Officials from the bowl released a statement earlier this week indicating that Friday’s College Football Playoff semifinal game between Ohio State and Texas could be delayed depending on the weather. On Tuesday, the Cotton Bowl released a statement saying the game will be played as scheduled.

“We continue to monitor weather reports, and over the last 24 hours, the forecast for later this week has improved according to the National Weather Service,” the Cotton Bowl said in a statement. “We have been meeting routinely with city officials, the Director of Transportation for North Texas, and the College Football Playoff. Should the forecast shift, we are prepared for all contingencies.

“North Texas highways are already being brined and plans are in place to assure a safe environment for everyone in and around AT&T Stadium on game day. The teams arrive (Wednesday), as planned, and the 2025 CFP Semifinal at the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will kick off on Friday evening as scheduled.”

Kickoff between the Longhorns and the Buckeyes is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday in Arlington, Texas.

The city of Dallas looks to be prepared for the event, and it is worth noting that temperatures are expected to reach above freezing on gameday. The Longhorns and the Buckeyes will be playing under a closed roof in Arlington, and obviously, Ohio State is no stranger to playing in extreme cold and snowy conditions. The primary concern was travel for both teams and fanbases getting to the contest safely.

That is not a concern any longer, though conditions will continue to be monitored for any potential changes. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported on Tuesday that there were “little to no” serious discussions about postponing the game.

Dallas is preparing for record snow on Thursday that could significantly impact travel along the Interstate 35, 20, and 40 corridors. The winter storm that is forecast to sweep through the southern US this week could dump more than a foot of snow on Dallas, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

The post Cotton Bowl issues status update regarding inclement weather ahead of Texas-Ohio State appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That’s something the Crimson Tide did not get a chance to compete for as far as the 2024 season was concerned, left just on the outside looking in of the College Football Playoff. Sabb said in his announcement that he felt there was more left for him still in Tuscaloosa and that he is ready to “run it back” in 2025.

“This season ended early for me and it did not finish the way any of us wanted. I have a lot left to help this team accomplish, and I look forward to leading the 2025 group,” he said. “I cannot wait to get back on the field and start working towards our ultimate goal of winning a national championship.”

The 2024 campaign marked Sabb’s first season of his career with Alabama. He closed the year out with 39 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 4 pass deflections over 7 games. He was not at full capacity for the entirety of the season, suffering a left leg injury on Oct. 19 against the Tennessee Volunteers. Head coach Kalen DeBoer announced he was done for the year in mid-November.

At the time, though, DeBoer stated that Alabama expected Sabb to be ready to roll” for the 2025 season.

“He’s just a guy that really has grown relationships with the team, and we want him around here,” DeBoer said then. “He’s one of those guys, like the others that are done for the year too, that care so much about this team and we care about him.”

Sabb appeared in 18 games with 4 starts across his 2 seasons at Michigan before transferring to Alabama. He was part of the Wolverines’ national championship-winning team in 2023.

The post Keon Sabb to return to Alabama in 2025, chase national title appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Wooden, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound junior, finished out the 2024 season with a total of 17 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, and 2 pass breakups. Of the 10 games he saw action in, Wooden started 6 of them. During his 3 seasons with the Tigers, the safety racked up 41 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 4 passes defended.

Coming out of Archer High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Wooden was originally a 3-star recruit. In the industry-generated 247 Composite, he was ranked as the No. 70 safety in his class and the No. 89 overall prospect from the state of Georgia in the 2022 cycle.

This season will mark Wooden’s final year of eligibility before he has a chance to take his career to the next level in the 2026 NFL Draft. He’ll hope this marks a helpful change of scenery for him after the Razorbacks finished out the season with a 7-6 overall record.

Wooden becomes the 19th known transfer to join the Razorbacks this winter. He’s the fourth defensive back transfer the Razorbacks have taken this cycle.

The post Arkansas lands intraconference transfer from former Auburn DB Caleb Wooden appeared first on Saturday Down South.

‘There is no bad blood there.

Ahead of the Cotton Bowl, Ewers took some time to reflect on when he first arrived at Ohio State and what the environment was like there. He recalls that he first came to Ohio State at a bit of a unique time in comparison to when most other players do, but that he was welcomed with open arms.

“It’s going to be awesome just to get to see all of those guys again,” he told reporters this week. “I feel like I made some really good relationships while I was there and those guys were fun to be around when I was there. They took me in and kind of a weird time… it was in the middle of fall camp.”

Many of the players that were with the Buckeyes when Ewers was on the team are still there. That includes his former roommate.

“I felt like I belonged there,” Ewers continued. “Me and Jack Sawyer were roommates my freshman year with some other guys. It’s going to be cool to get to see them.”

The Longhorns and the Buckeyes are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday. The Longhorns are a 5.5-point underdog in the game at ESPN Bet.

The post Quinn Ewers sounds off on facing former Ohio State teammates appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Former Utah State running back Rahsul Faison has committed to the program, according to a report from On3. Faison was listed as the No. 4 player at the position in the portal, per 247Sports’ transfer rankings, marking a big get for Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back chose South Carolina over multiple other teams, including Florida State, who some predicted he would land with. Alabama, UNC, UCLA, and UCF were also among the programs in contention.

Faison finished out the 2024 season with 1,109 yards on 198 carries with 8 touchdowns. He also displays the versatility of a running back who can be heavily relied upon in the backfield, reeling in 22 receptions for 99 yards. And if there is anything outside of all of that Beamer and Co. should be excited about, it is the level of reliability and consistency Faison has shown.

He crossed the century mark 5 times this season. His best game was in a 55-10 win over the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors back in November when he rushed for 191 yards and 2 scores on 20 carries.

Faison began his career at Lackawanna Community College in 2020 before transferring to Marshall in 202. He played a year of JUCO ball at Snow College in 2022 before joining Utah State prior to the 2023 season. He’ll have a chance to compete for the starting job at South Carolina in 2025 with Rocket Sanders entering the 2025 NFL Draft.

With the SEC presenting one of the biggest, if not the biggest, stage in college football, Faison will have the chance to prove he can be just as productive against some of the most fearsome teams in college football.

The post South Carolina adds former Utah State RB Rahsul Faison appeared first on Saturday Down South.

“The opportunity to play in the NFL is a dream of mine,” Jeanty wrote in the post on social media. “I’m proud to represent Boise State and all of those who have helped me along the way at the next level.”

The season the Broncos’ running back put together in 2024 was nothing short of outstanding, as he went from a darkhorse who largely flew under the radar to a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate. Despite the fact he comes from a smaller program, the numbers he put up and the records he set were on par with some of the greatest running backs in recent history.

Jeanty finished out the season with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 7 yards per rushing attempt on 374 total carries as he saw action in 14 games.

That rushing total is nothing short of historical, good for the second-highest in a season in the history of the FBS. The only player who has surpassed him in that category and still holds onto the record is one of the greatest players of all time, all positions considered. Barry Sanders, in 1998, recorded 2,628 yards.

There are mixed opinions as to where Jeanty will land in the 2025 NFL Draft, but barring anything unforeseen, he will be an early first-round selection. Mel Kiper Jr. had Jeanty listed seventh overall on his latest big board for ESPN.

The post Ashton Jeanty declares for 2025 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It was his (and Texas’s) biggest play of the game in one of the highest stakes college football games and was also amazingly set up by a clutch drive from quarterback Quinn Ewers and the offense. In the previous possession, the Longhorns offense scored a touchdown followed by a two-point conversion to put them in prime position to win with the current overtime rules after staving off a near comeback by the Sun Devils.

Barron, who has been a force within the Texas secondary after winning the Jim Thorpe Award, finished out the game with 11 combined tackles, 7 of which were solo, also with half of a tackle for loss. He totals 50 combined tackles (35 solo), with 1 sack and 1 fumble recovery on the season. As an NFL Draft prospect to keep an eye on, he will be one to watch closely as the team continues a very strong postseason run now just one win away from a national title game appearance.

Despite the loss for Arizona State, Sun Devils standout Cam Skattebo was named the Peach Bowl offensive MVP after he rushed for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns on the Texas defense.

The post  Jahdae Barron, Texas DB, named Peach Bowl Defensive Player of the Game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The 4-star true freshman wideout was one of the most key parts of an otherwise problematic Kentucky passing offense, totaling 6 receptions for 153 yards with 1 touchdowns during the season. That stat line does not exactly look impressive at first glance, but that has everything to do with the fact he was limited to playing in just 5 games due to a collarbone injury that he suffered during the preseason that hindered him.

He was originally the No. 149 overall player in the 2024 class, and marks a major loss for the Wildcats, who were working to make sure he stayed in the fold, in more than one way.

But he did, on the film, look like a player that with a healthy season could become a major asset to the team in future years. And it’s especially hurtful for Kentucky’s wide receiver room that is now lacking experience and direction with half of the corps made up by true freshmen.

Gilmore will have a total of 3 years of eligibility remaining at his next destination, in which he will be joining former Wildcats wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts and former Kentucky 3-year starter Dane Key. And, as for the Wildcats, if they make use of the transfer portal at the wide receiver position will also be something to watch closely as perhaps their largest position of need moving into 2025.

The post Hardley Gilmore, former Kentucky WR, signs with Nebraska appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But one of the things that stood out the most actually didn’t have to do with Texas or Arizona State on the field at all, as broadcaster Joe Tessitore was commended by many for the way he electrically called the matchup. The energy was there all the way for the entirety of a long contest that featured plenty of quality football, and that’s exactly what Tessitore delivered.

Fans from around the country took note and took to social media to praise Tessitore for his electric calls. Here’s a few of the top reactions:

Whether or not Texas makes it all the way will be something to keep an eye on as one of many teams who has gone into an overtime contest with a finish like this, including Georgia. And we can only hope for the same type of passion and solid broadcasting for these contests down the final stretch of the CFP as Tessitore delivered.

The post Joe Tessitore receives heaping of praise for electric Arizona State-Texas calls appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With a lot of talk surrounding the triple crown, as well as the Steelers this week around Paycor Stadium, there’s almost a comparison drawn that makes Chase the Secretariat among NFL receivers. He totals 117 catches for 1,612 yards with 14 touchdowns heading into the team’s next game. And Burrow is going to make sure that Chase gets his “triple crown” in this one.

“Make sure he gets it,” Burrow said on Tuesday. “I think a couple of (categories) are pretty out of reach for everybody else. I think he’s got a seven-or eight-catch lead (in those).”

Not only is his impressive stat line notable, it also puts him a cut above the rest as he tops players like Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. It will be one of the biggest progressing storylines as to how he continues to make waves in the midst of a historical season after serving as a member of the two-headed snake that was himself and Justin Jefferson at LSU.

His accomplishments continue to be one of the best transitions from the college to the pro level.

The post Joe Burrow says Bengals aim to get Ja’Marr Chase receiving triple crown appeared first on Saturday Down South.

There have been some unfortunate events in potential scoring opportunities, including a blocked field goal that was unique in and of itself. On the play, the field goal was blocked and bounced off the ground and still went through the uprights. That’s one that you don’t see too often. Later on in the game, there was also a safety by Arizona State that gave the Sun Devils some additional life and brought the game to the odd 17-8 score that was held with Texas leading by the top of the fourth quarter.

Here’s a look at the blocked field goal play. The 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Carston Kieffer in the final seconds of the first half, allowing Texas to walk into the locker room at halftime with a 17-3 lead.

It will be interesting to see how things continue to play out in a game that has been more competitive than some may have imagined it would have been.

The post Arizona State has field goal blocked, ball improbably bounces off ground and through uprights appeared first on Saturday Down South.

As is so common in this situation, South Alabama took to “X,” formerly known as Twitter, to deliver a not-so-subtle jab toward the Crimson Tide for what has been accomplished here. They had a post that was titled “Ending 2024 on top” followed by a sunglasses emoji. Here’s a look at that, with the newspaper headline of the accomplishment for South Alabama.

But while this is clearly directed at the Crimson Tide, who were formerly the best team in the nation, they are far from the only team in Alabama that has suffered losses. Jacksonville State fell to Ohio in the Cure Bowl during the postseason and other teams like Auburn, Troy, and UAB were not even bowl-eligible this season.

South Alabama will look to accomplish the same results when it gets back to the field next season. But it is safe to say the program has made quite the point this season.

The post South Alabama claims title of ‘only team in Alabama’ to win bowl game in 2024 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

A couple tied the knot during the game with, as ESPN’s broadcast noted, “50,000 guests and an unlimited source of Cheez-Its” present for the party.

There is no question that they have a large quantity of the snack on hand in what will be quite the wedding to remember.

Here’s clip of the festivities from the broadcast, which includes the mascot, dubbed “Ched-Z” as the officiant for Erin Doolin and Erik Yakes of Frederick, Maryland:

The Citrus Bowl ended up coming down to the wire with Illinois defeating South Carolina 21-17. It was a memorable affair for a number of reasons, but the unexpected wedding ceremony certainly makes the cut.

South Carolina dropped to 9-4 on the year with the loss. Illinois, meanwhile, clinched its first 10-win season since 2001. This was the first-ever meeting between South Carolina and Illinois on the gridiron.

Here’s video from the official ceremony, via the Citrus Bowl on social media:

The post Cheez-It mascot officiates mid-game wedding during Citrus Bowl appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Weeks went down on a 1-yard touchdown rush by Baylor standout Dawson Pendergrass and was clearly in pain and grabbing his leg before trainers went out and he was ultimately removed from the field. This is a major loss for the Tigers defense as Weeks has been one of the largest assets to the team on either side of the ball, making history as a sophomore within the program. He came into the game with a total of 119 tackles, including 58 solo takedowns (among the best in the SEC), coupled with 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

It will be interesting to watch what happens moving forward for Weeks and how LSU is able to bounce back from this loss of such an important player.

An emotional scene as the entire LSU team comes out to show their love for an injured Whit Weeks pic.twitter.com/m8jycQ1tVZ

— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 31, 2024

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Things of this nature are not prevalent among teams like the ones Saban has coached, and there is no question that this does not happen often when it comes to teams like Alabama. Especially Alabama teams going up against teams in the postseason like Michigan that have not fully bounced back anywhere near as expected after winning a national title game.

After the game, Brandon Marcello took to X (formerly known as Twitter), detailing the numbers for games when Alabama was favored by 14 points or more. Saban held an overall record of 135-3 in those situations, while DeBoer has been 6-3 in those exact same situations. It will be interesting to see how this continues to shake out, but it should also not be taken lightly that this is DeBoer’s first season there as the team has gone through a time of major transition.

After missing the College Football Playoff, Alabama will look to get back on the right track next season.

The post Kalen DeBoer matches Nick Saban-era record with another loss as a 2-score favorite appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Watson concluded the 2024 season at Texas A&M with 21 receptions for 280 yards with an average of 13.3 yards per reception and 1 touchdown. It was not at all his largest season after for his career, most which was spent with the Bulldogs of California.

Over 4 seasons, Watson caught 77 passes for 872 yards and 5 touchdowns over 4 seasons. Looking back on his career, Watson clocked 10 receptions for 134 yards in 2021 as a true freshman. His next year during his sophomore campaign in 2022 was not quite as lucrative as he snagged 8 catches for 80 yards. His breakout year came as a junior, when he logged 38 catches for 378 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2023.

While he was not exactly able to transfer over from conference to conference, there is hope that he will get things done the way he wants to at the next level. It will be something to watch in terms of what April holds for him as a possible dark horse player.

The post Texas A&M TE Tre Watson declares for 2025 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Both players are headed for greater things soon on their horizon, but when it comes to Shedeur, that should be specifically noted. Sanders is considered not only the best quarterback in the college football landscape but also one of the best overall players for his NFL Draft class. From an FCS star at Jackson State to a standout within the FBS, Shedeur has made quite an impact.

On Saturday, the Sanders family is suiting up together for one final time in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. After that, Shilo and Shedeur will be heading to the NFL, and their father was understandably emotional ahead of kickoff.

“It’s been a tremendous, tumultuous journey,” Deion Sanders said in a sideline interview with ESPN’s Taylor McGregor in which he became especially emotional. “I’m seeing when they first put on uniforms. When they first started. Who I first started coaching them.”

There is no question that Sanders has a lot to be proud of with the players he has not only created but raised, who have reached the maximum heights of college football. And let us not forget about Travis Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy and will also be in the 2025 NFL Draft talk as an elite prospect. Sanders and his program have a bright future ahead.

The post Deion Sanders delivers emotional interview ahead of last game with sons Shedeur, Shilo appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The conference is just 1-8 in bowl games this postseason, one of the worst records in existence in quite literally any category, owning that lone win when Syracuse played Wazzu. The Cougars were also a team behind the 8-ball a bit after head coach Jake Dickert left the team a little over a week before their bowl game.

Miami’s loss in the Pop-Tarts Bowl was particularly noteworthy. The Hurricanes were lighting up Iowa State offensively all game long, but Cam Ward did not play the 2nd half after an electric 1st-half performance. Instead, the star QB sat on the sidelines, even with Miami trailing by one point and a chance to win the game in the final minute.

If NC State manages to fall to the East Carolina Pirates, that would make matters even worse. NC State is clinging to a 21-20 lead late in the 4th quarter but the Pirates will get a chance to pull off the win.

Social media recently reacted to the numbers that the ACC has put up and expressed their disdain for some of what has gone on as of late:

It will be interesting to watch how this storyline evolves moving forward with a lot of football still left to be played as the action tapers down.

The post ACC flop: Fans, media destroy conference for ugly postseason results appeared first on Saturday Down South.

“They saw it. We all felt it. My parents saw how I interacted with the coaches, how they really are into me and how I got along with the players,” he said in an interview with On3 Sports. “They knew it was home and the place for me just like I did. We saw it all together. I am comfortable there. They felt that too.”

For Williams, it came down to more than just the coaching staff.

“The staff and the environment are it for me,” Williams continued in the interview. “They see the potential in me and I get to work with coach Wiggins. He has a great résumé, he knows how to develop players and he is ready to work with me. I know he will get the best out of me.”

Williams was originally a highly touted recruit with a multitude of offers from the likes of Arizona State, Oregon, Penn State and a host of others. But, at the end of the day, he chose to elect for Texas A&M. That should prove to be the right choice overall as he joins Mike Elko and the Aggies.

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Ward completed his 156th career touchdown pass to receiver Jacolby George with just over 4 minutes remaining in the first quarter of the bowl game. It’s a DI record because Ward’s college football career includes time at Incarnate Ward. FCS counts in Division I records.

It was the first of 3 passing TDs for Ward in the 1st half, helping Miami out to a 31-28 lead on Iowa State.

Ward entered the game with a completion percentage of 67.4%, throwing for 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He has been one of the biggest risers in the CFB landscape as a journeyman transfer who seems to have finally hit his stride after being something of a flash in the pan at places like UIW. Sometimes the portal can be a difference-maker, and that’s been the case for Ward.

For Ward to be playing in this game after he has been pinned as a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft is a huge deal considering that so many players opt out of events like this in order to avoid injuries. There is far more for him after this on the horizon for the quarterback in terms of a professional career.

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Ratledge recently accepted an invite from the Senior Bowl, which is essentially considered to be the ultimate commitment to going on to the professional league at this point. Tate Ratledge is the first member of the Georgia football team to accept an invite to participate in the showcase, which will move forward in the winter as one of the most highly heralded in the nation.

Over the course of 13 games through the season, Ratledge has played 9 of those, which included 8 starts. Any games he did not play were due to injury. According to Pro Football Focus, Ratledge has posted an 82.9 pass-blocking grade and a 73.6 run-blocking grade. 

Where he lands in April will be something that remains to be seen, but there is no question he will make a quick impact in the interior of an offensive line of an NFL team. Before that, he’ll try to keep powering the Bulldog offense toward a potential national championship.

Georgia’s next step comes in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on New Year’s Day.

The post Tate Ratledge, Georgia OL, accepts Senior Bowl invitation appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Singleton announced that decision on Friday evening:

Singleton’s decision to transfer from Arkansas was not exactly surprising though as quarterback Taylen Green has taken the spotlight in Fayetteville, putting Singleton in a position where he may have better opportunities to climb the depth chart in different places.

Singleton is considered a hot commodity after he was previously listed by the 247Sports Composite as a 4-star, top-400 prospect in the 2023 class. He was also ranked as the No. 17 overall prospect in that recruiting cycle nationally among quarterbacks. He also made it to the final round of the Elite 11 prospect showcase.

He’ll go into a Boilermakers team that is no stranger to transfers after they recently had a transfer quarterback of their own in signal-caller Hudson Card. How they make use of Singleton will be something to watch, but there is plenty of reason to believe Singleton will be able to hit the ground running in West Lafayette. He finished out the 2024 season with 21 of his 28 passing attempts completed for 358 yards with 4 total touchdowns.

The post Former Arkansas QB Malachi Singleton commits to Purdue appeared first on Saturday Down South.

NBC’s Nicole Auerbach shared a photo of the sidelines, which fill feature Pop-Tarts-inspired sprinkles. The outlined confections run in a haphazard pattern in multiple colors, very much resembling the body of an actual full PopTart dessert pastry:

The Pop-Tarts Bowl has become known for its creativity with everything from its trophy to its edible mascot.

This will be one of the most intriguing bowl games to watch considering that the Hurricanes were one of the top teams left looking on the outside in of the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Cam Ward will be one of the largest storylines to watch here as he prepares to potentially become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Iowa State will be playing for its 11th win on Saturday, which would improve upon what has already been the program’s first-ever 10-win season.

The Hurricanes and the Iowa State Cyclones are set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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He has been such a large asset of the high-flying Lane Kiffin offense, posting video-game like numbers as he has finished out the 2024 season with a completion percentage of 68.6% of his passes for 3,875 yards with 25 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

On Friday, Dart shared a heartfelt message with the Ole Miss fans who have cheered him on through his record-breaking career.

“To Rebel Nation – words cannot express the depth of my feelings and emotions in this moment… but “THANK YOU” seems like the right place to start,” Dart wrote in-part. “THANK YOU for the love and support that y’all have showed me at Ole Miss. Who would have known that a kid who grew-up in Utah would find his way to the great state of Mississippi in order to fulfill his college gridiron dreams.”

Here’s his full message, which also includes mentions of teammates, coaches and the broader Ole Miss community:

Kiffin had this to say of Dart’s message to the Ole Miss fan base:

Dart and the Ole Miss football team are set to take on the Duke Blue Devils on Jan. 2 in the Gator Bowl.

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It has been noted by the same report that Belichick’s move here is not at all out of any lack of support or respect for the team, but rather because he has stated that he does not want to be a “distraction” as the Tar Heels make it through the last stretch of the 2024 campaign. He’s drawn positive comments on a multitude of things, including his attention to the roster.

North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham also spoke about how “exciting” it is for Belichick to be taking over the program moving forward.

“I think it’s been really exciting,” Cunningham told ESPN. “People are excited about the future. We’ve talked about how college sports is really changing. The idea of having Bill and someone with his background in professional sports is something that we’re all excited about. This is where we’re headed… it’s good to be an early adopter.”

It will be interesting to see how things play out when the Tar Heels square off against the UConn Huskies at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday in the last go-round before the Belichick era officially dawns at UNC.

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That news was first shared by On3’s Pete Nakos, who added that a move “closer to home” will be his priority at his next destination. White is an Alabama native.

He’s been a big part of the Vols’ production on offense and Tennessee history for that matter. He departs from the team as 7th in career receptions (131), and 18th in career receiving yards (1,665). He has one year of eligibility remaining, having shown a high level of consistency up to this point.

White totals 34 receptions for 381 yards with 2 touchdowns on the 2024 season. It will be interesting to see where he lands next as a player who could become practically an instant asset for the next team he lands with. He had the best season of his career in 2023 when he caught 67 passes for 803 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

The wideout could have replicated and perhaps even built upon those numbers this season, but he was hampered by injuries that did affect his stat line to the point that it saw him reach a career low of 381 receiving yards.

White originally signed with Tennessee as a 4-star prospect out of Clay-Chalkville High School in Alabama out of the 2022 signing class.

The post Tennessee WR Squirrel White reportedly set to enter transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Thompson chose LSU over Ohio State, Tennessee and others. He was a hot topic of conversation, considering that he was rated as the No. 6 interior offensive lineman currently in the transfer portal, per 247Sports rankings.

Here’s his announcement:

Looking back on his high school career before he was at Northwestern, Thompson was rated as a 3-star prospect coming out of Fenton High School in Fenton, Michigan, also named the No. 46 interior offensive lineman and the No. 20 overall prospect out of the state of Michigan for the same recruiting cycle.

Landing Thompson is just one of a number of wins that the Tigers have had lately, with LSU standout Harold Perkins also announcing that he was returning for the 2025 season as a player who will continue to be an asset for the Tigers.

LSU will be hoping to make it back to the College Football Playoff in 2025 after a disappointing 8-4 regular season under Brian Kelly this fall.

The post LSU lands commitment from ex-Northwestern OL Josh Thompson in transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And it was a wild one that came on a tip drill that you have to see to believe. Here is a look at the play:

As of the last seconds of the second quarter, Tennessee trailed Ohio State, 21-10. In that same time span, Brooks totaled 3 combined tackles, all of which were solo, to accompany the single interception. It is safe to say the Volunteers will have a lot of work do and have to find at least some way to build off of Brooks’ efforts if they want to have any hope of continuing on in the CFP.

The defense will obviously have to step up a bit more after allowing 3 touchdowns in the first half, all of which came out of the gate in the first quarter. But complementary football will also be essential as quarterback Nico Iamaleava and company have not been able to get things going in a rhythm so far in this one on a consistent basis, though they were able to close out the final seconds of the half with a 2-yard scoring carry from Iamaleava.

The post Tennessee DB Will Brooks secures wild tip-drill INT vs. Ohio State appeared first on Saturday Down South.

From there, he joined the Charlotte 49ers before heading to Colorado to become a member of the Buffaloes. This is a big get for the Crimson Tide after Hill-Green was one of the best available linebackers in the transfer portal totaling 82 tackles and 2 sacks at Colorado for the 2024 season.

As a recruit, Hill-Green was originally listed by the 247Sports Composite as a 4-star prospect, ranked as the No. 23 outside linebacker in the nation for his class and the No. 12 overall player in the state of Maryland.

It will be interesting to see what type of impact he is able to make in Tuscaloosa as he takes the field at his first SEC destination after such a well-traveled journey to this point. Over the entirety of his career, he tallies 206 combined tackles (136 solo), 8 passes defended, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.

He can build upon that here.

The post Nikhai Hill-Green, former Colorado LB, commits to Alabama appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The good news for Texas was that Majors was on the field for halftime warmups and was a brief participant. He met with a member of the Texas training staff shortly after. He re-entered the game, something that should give the Longhorns hope to keep their foot on the gas offensively while they have the edge like this. It is also big for Majors himself, not only for the obvious reasons but to continue building on his own draft stock as one of the most highly touted players in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The veteran is considered not only one of the best centers in the nation but one of the most solid overall prospects who will be available for the taking in April. Many have mocked him to teams like the Dallas Cowboys in the meantime.

At the start of the second half, Texas held the momentum with a strong 28-10 lead over the Tigers.

The post Texas C Jake Majors leaves CFP game with injury appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It should serve as a better opportunity for Jarrett to climb the depth chart, something he looked to do with the Bulldogs, but had trouble accomplishing due to some of the injury issues he suffered. Jarrett saw the field for 11 games during the 2024 season, finishing out with 3 tackles. There was a time when it appeared that Jarrett had potential to be an every-game starter with the potential to be a key part of the run defense, but that looks like a harder act to pull off at Georgia with the trajectory he’s been on, largely for no fault of his own.

Georgia, which has lost multiple players to the transfer portal and is expected to be equally active in picking up players, will continue its season against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl without Jarrett.

Over at USC, Jarrett is filling a large void after the departure of Bear Alexander, who himself entered the transfer portal and is set to take the field for the Oregon Ducks next season.

The post Former Georgia DL Jamaal Jarrett commits to USC appeared first on Saturday Down South.

And, yes, he is the younger brother of NDSU great Trey Lance, who went on to become a top-10 overall NFL Draft selection. This Lance will be looking to accomplish the same feat in the future, and it is safe to say he is on the right track to doing so based on his play today. Here’s a look at that can’t-miss moment by the younger Lance:

That touchdown proved to be the game-winner with NDSU hanging on over the final 4 minutes of the game. The Bison will face the winner of South Dakota vs. Montana State in the FCS Championship.

This Lance, a junior, totals 60 catches for 821 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He finished out the big victory cording the century-mark with 6 receptions for 125 yards with 3 touchdowns. He was far and away the team’s leading pass-catcher, averaging just under 20 yards per reception.

How he continues to perform and how the Bison are able to progress through the final stretch of the postseason with the hopes of winning it all will be something to watch. What Lance did here should certainly give them an additional confidence boost.

The post North Dakota State delivers insane one-handed TD in FCS semis win appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Ewers started off the season as one of the top quarterbacks in the country, with some ranking him as the best at the position.

Now, some people think the Texas offense is actually more energized and operates at a higher level when it is Arch Manning at the helm and not Ewers. Klatt says it sounds a little “hyperbolic,” but it is also something he is not in denial of.

“I do think it’s the case,” Klatt said this week. “Because when Ewers doesn’t have mobility and he hasn’t had it … with the ankle injury, he can’t scamper for first downs. There is an immense amount of pressure on (head coach) Steve Sarkisian to scheme guys open. We’ve seen that against Georgia, both times that they’ve played them. Georgia is fast enough and well-coached enough to take that away.”

It’s because of this and the way Ewers is unable to utilize his full potential that we could end up seeing him head to the bench if things go awry early in such an important game. Sarkisian will have some difficult things to manage on his hands in this one without a doubt.

“I do think Quinn is going to have a short leash,” Klatt added. “I think of Tua with Jalen Hurts and I think this is it. You’ve got to win this game to move on. There’s no other game after this. So how quick is leash if Quinn is not playing well? If he’s not seeing it? Like that first outing against Georgia. Will we see Arch Manning? Possibly. And I actually think they’re a more dynamic offense [with Manning].”

Texas and Clemson will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon in Austin.

The post Joel Klatt says Quinn Ewers will be on a ‘short leash’ vs. Clemson in CFP game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder will bring a lot to the table for his next team, including a strong level of production that can be expected to be continued elsewhere. Payton, over three seasons with the Seminoles, tallied 109 tackles, 16 sacks, 12 passes defended and 3 forced fumbles. He also earned high conference honors, named 2022 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. He will have 1 year of eligibility remaining at his next destination.

He originally signed with Florida State as a 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, and was one of the most important contributors in that iconic 2023 season that really put the squad on the radar.

The move by Payton to enter the transfer portal is one the Seminoles have seen a lot of after Mike Norvell’s team experienced a fall from grace, nowhere near meeting the expectations for the 2024 season as they finished out with a 2-10 overall record. The Noles finished dead last in the conference after they were expected to be contend for the ACC title this season.

It will be interesting to see both where Payton lands and if FSU is able to bounce back with a pivotal offseason ahead.

The post Patrick Payton set to enter transfer portal, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The former UVA quarterback has drawn some intrigue and could help the Rebs keep things rolling on offense with Jaxson Dart set to turn pro after this season. Considering Dart was a product of the transfer portal and was such a big hit, Lane Kiffin and company could capitalize in a big way here yet again.

Per 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Colandrea is taking his Ole Miss visit on Wednesday:

Colandrea has shown promise over his past 2 seasons despite the fact that he was ultimately benched at Virginia in 2024, totaling 4,083 yards, 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He has also shown potential dual-threat capabilities, rushing for 502 yards and scoring 2 touchdowns on the ground.

Other programs that have been noted as potential landing spots for the former Cavaliers quarterback. Colandrea previously visited Syracuse during this process. Regardless of how things pan out where Ole Miss is specifically concerned, there is no question the Rebels have a large void to fill at the quarterback position with the type of legacy that Dart leaves behind there.

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After he was strongly connected to App State as recently as Tuesday, where many expected him to land next, reports have now surfaced that Arnett will join former Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen at UNLV as the program’s defensive coordinator.

That’s per 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz:

Arnett has been biding his time at Ole Miss as an analyst since he was fired by Mississippi State in his role as the head coach. Arnett spent just 1 season as head coach after replacing the late Mike Leach in that role. He previously served as Mississippi State’s defensive coordinator, although he did not overlap with Mullen in Starkville.

Taking this opportunity out west would give him the ability to return to his former role that he excelled in most back when he had a Bulldogs defensive group that was among the toughest to contend with not only in the SEC, but in the nation. He enters this position with the Rebels with high expectations abound, considering not only his track record as a coordinator, but also with the recent success UNLV has had on that side of the ball.

It will be interesting to see how things shake out as Arnett looks to continue bouncing back after his blunders with the Bulldogs.

The post Zach Arnett reportedly expected to join Dan Mullen at UNLV appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Tigers joined a number of prestigious programs in the list of who Singleton reportedly narrowed his options down to, including LSU, Texas, Miami and Ole Miss. As so many other players do in the NIL era when it comes to transferring, the Georgia Tech star is expected to rake in on a huge pay day valued at a ballpark of $1 million with whichever his next destination proves to be.

While that’s quite a bit even for a time in which a lot of players do yield a large dollar amount with a change of scenery, some may argue that he’s earned it with what he has accomplished with the Yellow Jackets over 24 games and what he could do as he continues to build upon that. So far in his career, he tallies 104 receptions for 1,468 yards, averaging 14.1 yards per catch. He’s also scored 9 receiving touchdowns in his career.

According to On3 experts Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong, Auburn is expected to sign the talented wide receiver:

Singleton is the No. 3 overall player and the No. 1 wide receiver in ESPN’s latest transfer portal rankings.

Auburn will be looking to take a big step forward under Hugh Freeze in 2025 after the Tigers went just 5-7 this past season.

The post Auburn linked to top transfer portal WR Eric Singleton Jr. appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That list included Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks and Texas defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Pete Kwiatkowski. They joined the likes of Arizona State offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo,Indiana defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Bryant Haines and Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden.

Banks has been key in propelling the success the Volunteers have had on defense this season. He holds 18 years of FBS experience as a defensive coordinator and is currently in the midst of his fourth season with Tennessee.

If Kwiatkowski takes home the honor, he will be just the second member of the Longhorns to do so. The last to do it was offensive coordinator Greg Davis (2005). He’s been the mastermind one of the most prominent defenses in college football this season, which currently stands at No. 3 in total defense, No. 1 in passing yards surrendered, No. 15 in rushing defense and No. 2 in scoring defense.

Both coaches have the chance to make history when the winner is revealed on Feb. 13. Previous winners of the award include Steve Sarkisian, Lincoln Riley, Brent Venables and Kirby Smart, amongst others.

The post SEC lands 2 assistants on list of Broyles Award finalists appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With Jalen Milroe likely out of the fold sooner rather than later for the 2025 NFL Draft, the Crimson Tide could be looking for his replacement this offseason. And regardless of what actually happens with that situation, it is clear that Lonergan feels there are better and perhaps more promising opportunities for him elsewhere.

The news comes right after Alabama was left on the outside looking in for the College Football Playoff, set to be played in the 12-team format for the first time in history.

Lonergan could provide a boost for a team with a need at the position and could have a lot of untapped potential as he was a Class of 2023 top-160 overall recruit. According to the 247Sports Composite, the Snellville, Georgia native who played out his pre-college career at Brookwood High School was a 4-star prospect who was the No. 13 overall prospect in the state of Georgia, the No. 13 overall quarterback in his class and the 159th ranked player in the nation for the same cycle.

It will be interesting to see both where he lands next and what the future holds for Alabama in the transfer portal moving forward through the offseason.

The post Alabama QB Dylan Lonergan reportedly set to enter transfer portal appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Russell, a quarterback from Duncanville, Texas, put up a monster season with video-game like numbers you almost have to read twice to believe. He finished out the season passing for some 3,652 yards with 52 touchdowns while completing over 71% of his passing attempts. He was careful with the football and rarely ever put it in harm’s way, throwing just 2 interceptions.

That performance helped power his way to beating out several prestigious players for the award, including Auburn commitment Alvin Henderson and 5-star 2026 offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell. He was presented the award by none other than a former Alabama member of the Crimson Tide himself, Trevon Diggs. Diggs also has had a heralded career with the Dallas Cowboys.

“You see the production this fall is on another level,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said of Russell in his Wednesday press conference.

“Then there’s the leadership piece and the personality just there’s a swagger about him, a confidence about him…it’s what you want out of any leader especially these key guys, especially your quarterback.”

With the potential for a void to be left in a large way by the potential departure of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, filling the position with players like Russell is essential for Alabama.

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