Author: nfltalk

This fall, LSU turned in an offensive season so prolific that it rivaled the 2019 unit led by Joe Burrow. For that, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock was named a finalist for the Broyles Award.

But he’s not the only offensive assistant for the Tigers that’s drawing some postseason recognition. After his work with Jayden Daniels — who transferred in from Arizona State and won the Heisman Trophy in 2023 — the last two seasons, quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan was named to the 247Sports All-Assistant Team.

Sloan has deep ties to the state having spent the nine seasons on staff at Louisiana Tech in various roles before joining LSU, most recently as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Here’s what 247Sports said about Sloan.

You know you’re having a good year when your quarterback wins the Heisman Trophy. Sloan took a great quarterback and developed Jayden Daniels into an elite player over the last two seasons.

The results this fall were jaw-dropping. The second-year transfer from Arizona State transfer threw 40 touchdowns against only four interceptions, and he rushed for 1,134 yards, the best mark by a quarterback. His efforts combined for 4,946 yards and 50 touchdowns — and he led the nation with an FBS-record 11.7 yards per pass attempt.

LSU had the nation’s fourth-best passing offense at 334.3 yards per game and no team averaged more yards through the air than the Tigers (11 yards per attempt) thanks to the efforts of Daniels.

After a solid first season in Baton Rouge, Daniels took a massive leap in Year 2 under Sloan’s tutelage. With Daniels heading to the NFL, potentially as a top-10 draft pick, Sloan’s stock is likely only to rise.

The Tigers don’t necessarily have a clear starter in 2024. Garrett Nussmeier is the most game-tested passer on the roster, but he’s yet to start a game….

..

[ad_2]

Read More

With postseason college football awards being handed out on a near-daily basis and the Heisman Trophy going to Jayden Daniels this past Saturday, the Associated Press released its 2023 All-American teams on Monday.

Colorado Buffaloes two-way star Travis Hunter was named to the First Team as an all-purpose player. Hunter was also named First-Team All-Pac-12 on defense.

The Pac-12 Conference had three other players on the First Team: center Jackson Powers-Johnson (Oregon) wide receiver Rome Odunze (Washington) and edge rusher Laiatu Latu (UCLA).

Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies’ QB, was named to the Second Team, and Oregon QB Bo Nix was named to the Third Team.

Hunter looks to be an early Heisman Trophy contender next season, and his numbers would’ve been even better if he didn’t get injured.

Colorado’s last 5 AP First-team All-Americans:
2023 – CB/WR Travis Hunter
2010 – OT Nate Solder
2007 – LB Jordon Dizon
2005 – PK Mason Crosby
2002 – P Mark Mariscal
The 13-year gap is the longest for CU since a 15-year gap from 1937 (Byron White) to 1952 (Don Branby)#cubuffs

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) December 11, 2023

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Story originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire

..

[ad_2]

Read More

USATSI

USC is hiring North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz as its linebackers coach, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley announced Sunday. Entz spent the past five years leading the Bison, amassing a 60-10 record and winning the FCS national title in 2019 and 2021. 

The move marks an outside-the-box hire for Riley and new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn as the Trojans seek to bolster a defense that surrendered 34.9 points points per game during the 2023 regular season. NDSU is set to play Montana in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs this Saturday, and Entz will remain with NDSU through the duration of the postseason. 

Riley fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and replaced him with Lynn, who spent this season in the same role for UCLA after several seasons as an NFL assistant.

Though Entz has never worked for an FBS program, his addition gives USC a proven winner from a defensive background. Prior to taking over as North Dakota State’s head coach in 2019, Entz served as the program’s defensive coordinator from 2014-18, giving him a decade of high-level experience with an FCS powerhouse. 

“Having a championship-caliber staff is instrumental to the success of our team,” Riley said. “By welcoming Matt Entz, a championship-winning head coach and outstanding defensive mind, we are bolstering our defensive staff. He is going to be an excellent addition to the USC football program.” 

There is recent precedent for a similar move leading to upward mobility in the coaching profession. After leading Montana State to the FCS semifinals in 2019, Jeff Choate left to become the…

..

[ad_2]

Read More

Brian Kelly is working on beefing up the defensive line in the 2026 recruiting class. That search has led him to Buford, Georgia where he has found a guy who has not heated up on the recruiting trail yet, but it is only a matter of time.

James Morrow is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive lineman from Buford, Georgia where he plays for Buford High School. The Buford Wolves finished the 2023 season 11-2 with a loss to Grayson in the third round of the GHSA 7A playoffs.

There are currently no Crystal Hall projections at this time and there are no favorites to land him on On3.

Film Analysis: Morrow is a bully who puts his hand in the dirt and attacks with 100% on every play.

FILM

Ratings

Stars

Overall

State

Position

247

–

–

–

–

Rivals

–

–

–

–

ESPN

–

–

–

–

On3 Recruiting

–

–

–

–

247 Composite

–

–

–

–

 

Vitals

Hometown

Buford, Georgia

Projected Position

CB

Height

6-4

Weight

240

Class

2026

 

Recruitment

Offers List

Recruitment Projections

Twitter

Story originally appeared on LSU Tigers Wire

..

[ad_2]

Read More