Author: nfltalk

STILLWATER — One of the most intently watched Oklahoma State football players last December and January was cornerback Korie Black.

Speculation was rampant about where he’d play in 2024.

Would he go to the NFL?

Would he enter the transfer portal to leave for another program, even perhaps join his younger brother at Texas?

Any of those seemed like viable possibilities, yet Black went with option No. 3, remaining at OSU for his super-senior season.

“I had a lot of talks with coaches and my parents,” Black said. “Through all those conversations, we pretty much came up with this.”

Black’s return is hugely valuable for a Cowboy defense looking to take a big step forward in the second year under coordinator Bryan Nardo.

Here’s a look at the cornerback position for the Pokes this spring:

More: Which Oklahoma State football players have most to gain in spring practice?

OSU’s Korie Black (2) celebrates a defensive stop next to OU’s Drake Stoops (12) during the Cowboys’ win in Bedlam on Nov. 4, 2023, in Stillwater.

Season rewind

Among players with more than 60 snaps played, Black was the third-best graded player on the OSU defense last season, according to Pro Football Focus, coming behind only Anthony Goodlow and Collin Oliver.

He played 680 snaps and his receiver was targeted just 35 times all season, so quarterbacks were avoiding him when possible. He allowed just 16 catches for 264 yards.

The second-most used cornerback was redshirt freshman D.J. McKinney, who has since transferred to Colorado, but the Cowboys rotated cornerbacks more frequently than ever before, getting plenty of experience for Cam Smith and Kale Smith (no relation).

The cornerback group was solid last year, but there’s still room for growth, and that seems to be happening this spring.

Roster management

Who’s out: D.J. McKinney

Who’s in:…

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USATSI

Since parting ways with the New England Patriots in January, Bill Belichick has managed to keep a pretty low profile. 

The six-time Super Bowl winning coach hasn’t been seen on a football field in nearly three months, but that changed over the weekend, when he showed up at the University of Washington for a spring practice. Not only did Belichick make an appearance at practice, but he showed full support for the team by wearing a Washington hoodie and hat. 

After 24 years in New England, it’s almost jarring to see him wearing a hoodie that doesn’t have the Patriots’ logo on it.  

This is the first time we’ve seen Belichick in a Washington hoodie, but it probably won’t be the last. Belichick’s son, Steve, was hired in February to be the team’s defensive coordinator. 

Steve seemed pretty thrilled to have his dad around for practice. 

“It was cool. I’m glad he got to come out here,” Steve told the media when asked about his dad’s attendance at practice. I look up to him in so many different areas. To have him out here, it’s been awesome.”

Steve had worked on the Patriots’ coaching staff since 2012, so this is the first time that he’s had a job in football where his dad isn’t his boss. 

It appears that the elder Belichick had a busy weekend at the school. Not only did he attend practice, but he was also the featured speaker at a coaching clinic that the school held on Saturday. 

The 71-year-old Belichick has some free time this spring, which is rare for him. This year will mark the first time since 1974 that the six-time Super Bowl winner doesn’t have an NFL…

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For the first time since Rutgers entered the Big Ten in 2014, there is a quarterback competition that features two experienced players who each have deep Power Five starting experience.

The offseason addition of Athan Kalaikmanis, who started every regular season game for Minnesota last year, certainly changes the look and feel of the Rutgers quarterback room. With the incumbent starter, Gavin Wimsatt, back from a year where Rutgers won a bowl game, there is a level of depth and competition that hasn’t existed around this program in quite some time.

Of the four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, Wimsatt and Ajanni Sheppard spent last season at Rutgers and with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca.

“For two of them, it’s their second year in the system now so you would expect a better understanding from a whole offseason of studying yourself,” head coach Greg Schiano told reporters on Saturday.

“But yeah, there’s a healthy competition in the room. I think it’s deeper so we’ll just let it play out.”

Rutgers has had inconsistent quarterback play for much of the last decade and the hope this offseason is that Kalaikmanis or Wimsatt will step up and manage the offense effectively.

While Sheppard is promising and A.J. Surace, a three-star quarterback who arrived on campus in January, the quarterback competition is likely to favor the most experienced players.

Wimsatt and Kalaikmanis both have significant starting experience in the Big Ten and that is likely what is needed with this veteran roster.

“Well, Athan I saw do things in Big Ten games, so I’m not really surprised – I think he’s doing well, but it’s not a surprise,” Schiano said.

“AJ only saw (him) play in high school and yes, he’s pleasantly surprised me. I mean, AJ is a really fine young quarterback prospect. Very excited about…

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Auburn will be one of the first major programs to close practice as the Tigers host their annual A-Day spring game on Saturday. The Tigers will give fans a first glimpse of the 2024 roster as Hugh Freeze’s squad enters its second season. 

The Tigers struggled in Freeze’s first season, finishing 6-7 with an embarrassing three-touchdown loss against New Mexico State. Freeze’s signature passing unit finished worst in the SEC, mustering just 162.2 yards per game. Mississippi State was the only SEC West program to average fewer points per game. 

Of course, the roster that takes the field on Saturday may not be the final version. Four additional high school prospects arrive on campus in the summer, including national top-40 wide receiver Perry Thompson. The Tigers could also be active in the post-spring transfer portal. Still, the spring game provides key evaluation time for both fans and coaches. 

The format of the spring game is meant to build excitement and competitiveness. In the offense-defense battle, the defense will start with a 27-0 lead on the scoreboard. The offense has four 10-minute quarters to try and surpass the total in order to win the game. Whichever unit has the most points at the end of the 40-minute game will be declared the winner. Here are some spring game storylines as well as information on how to watch the Tigers 2024 debut. 

How to watch 2024 Auburn spring game live

Date: Saturday, April 6 | Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama
Live Stream: SEC Network+ 

2024 Auburn spring game storylines 

1. Has Payton Thorne taken a step? Auburn weighed some quarterback options in the transfer portal but ultimately decided to ride into 2024 with the returning group of signal callers. Incumbent…

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