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  • How Austin Blaske has battled diabetes to become a college football standout at North Carolina

    How Austin Blaske has battled diabetes to become a college football standout at North Carolina

    Austin Blaske has been in the news a lot in recent months as the 6-foot-5, 315-pound offensive lineman transferred from the University of Georgia, where he played for the last four years, to North Carolina.

    But a recent honor that Blaske received shined the light on something that has not been widely reported. Blaske, who has Type 1 diabetes, was named by the Talki Foundation, a Georgia diabetes non-profit, as the organization’s Person of the Year.

    The former South Effingham star was diagnosed with the disease as a fifth grader and he never let it slow him down in his athletic or academic pursuits. He went on to become a football, wrestling and track and field star for the Mustangs, and his diabetic condition was never reported in the press.

    “It really wasn’t, and there’s no reason why or why not,” said Blaske, 22. “It just hasn’t been a thing that I’ve ever put out there. But now that I’m being recognized with this award, it seems like the whole world knows now.

    “The toughest thing about it is being consistent about what times I eat and when I take my medicine. The biggest thing is just finding the groove and hitting that target number every day with your blood sugar control and keeping it in the range every day.”

    Blaske named Most Versatile Male Athlete Most Versatile Male Athlete: Austin Blaske

    UGA’s Smart visits Blaske at South Eff UGA’s Smart visits South Effingham recruit Blaske

    South Effingham’s Blaske signs with UGA South Effingham’s Blaske can’t turn away offer from Georgia

    Austin Blaske of the North Carolina football team.

    Savannah’s Charlie Komons founded the Talki Foundation six years ago. A diabetic himself, Komons named the organization after one of his service dogs, named Talki, that saved his life by detecting changes in his blood sugar level. The foundation’s mission is to help spread awareness and…

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  • 2024 NFL free agency: Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer signs with Buffalo’s division rival

    2024 NFL free agency: Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer signs with Buffalo’s division rival

    Getty

    Jordan Poyer is staying inside the AFC East. The former Buffalo Bills All-Pro safety has agreed to terms with the Miami Dolphins, according to his agents (via NFL Media). 

    Poyer was among the recent players whom the Bills released. The soon-to-be 33-year-old veteran is set to join a Dolphins secondary that is currently headlined by Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey and starting safety Jevon Holland.

    An 11-year veteran, Poyer blossomed into one of the NFL’s premier safeties after going from Cleveland to Buffalo before the start of the 2017 season. He had five picks during his first season in Buffalo and tallied 22 interceptions during his first six seasons with the Bills. Poyer received his first All-Pro nod in 2021 after filing the stat sheet with 93 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions and nine pass breakups. 

    Poyer was named to the Pro Bowl in 2022 after recording four picks and helping Buffalo win its…

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  • Outlooks in 2024 season for Arch Manning, Nico Iamaleava and more from star-studded 2023 QB recruiting class

    Outlooks in 2024 season for Arch Manning, Nico Iamaleava and more from star-studded 2023 QB recruiting class

    The 2023 quarterback recruiting class is set up to go down as a historic group. Though such a status can only be solidified through what the prospects accomplish at the collegiate level, there’s no doubt that the amount of signal-caller talent produced during that cycle is unparalleled. 

    The 2023 class boasted five five-star quarterbacks, more than any other recruiting crop since 247Sports started ranking prospects. Four of those five-star players ranked inside the top 10 nationally and all five landed inside the top 15; those are ratios we’ve never seen in the recruiting sphere. 

    Several of those signees have either already made a huge impact or are in line for a big role moving forward. Of the nine quarterbacks inside the top 100 of the 2023 Top247, five have already started at least one game and six are poised to step into a starting role in 2024. The other three, including such illustrious names as Texas’ Arch Manning, are clearly being groomed for starting spots once veteran quarterbacks ahead on the depth chart move on. 

    With the immense amount of talent involved, and with teams set to hit the field for spring practice in the coming weeks, it felt appropriate to analyze the immediate outlook for each top quarterback prospect from the historic 2023 recruiting cycle. 

    Arch Manning, Texas

    2023 ranking: No. 1 National, No. 1 Quarterback

    One of the most ballyhooed signings of the modern recruiting era, Manning’s career at Texas has been quiet thus far. He spent his freshman season as the No. 3 quarterback behind veteran starter Quinn Ewers, a former No. 1 prospect nationally in his own right, and Maalik Murphy. Murphy’s transfer to Duke opens the door for Manning to secure the backup spot as Ewers spurning the NFL Draft and returning…

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  • Why QB Allen’s contract extension was easy 49ers decision

    Why QB Allen’s contract extension was easy 49ers decision

    Why QB Allen’s contract extension was easy 49ers decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

    When quarterback Brandon Allen signed with the 49ers last spring, he joined an already crowded quarterback room.

    Allen entered, seemingly, as the No. 4 quarterback behind a recovering Brock Purdy, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.

    Ultimately, Allen’s presence was one of the reasons the 49ers opted to trade Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round draft pick near the end of training camp.

    The move was made after Purdy recovered quickly from significant elbow surgery and Sam Darnold beat out Lance for the backup job. The 49ers had enough confidence in Allen to move forward with him as the No. 3.

    “This system works well for quarterbacks who can just be accurate and play on time,” Allen told NBC Sports Bay Area during training camp, citing his reason for joining the 49ers after previously serving as the backup to Joe Burrow with the Cincinnati Bengals.

    The 49ers made the unsurprising move Monday of agreeing to terms with Allen on a one-year contract extension, his agent, Kyle Strongin, confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area.

    Currently, Allen is the only other quarterback under contract behind Purdy, who finished fourth in the voting for NFL Most Valuable Player.

    Allen, 31, did not appear in any games with the 49ers last season, though In four seasons with the Bengals, he started nine of the 15 games in which he appeared.

    Meanwhile, Darnold’s future remains unclear. But his status could be settled shortly, as the early negotiating period opened Monday morning for free agents.

    The 49ers would like to bring him back for another season as insurance behind Purdy, but there might be other teams who will enter the mix and provide him with a better opportunity — or a bigger paycheck.

    General manager John Lynch said Darnold could have made more money last season but opted to sign with the 49ers. With so many NFL teams with…

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  • Arkansas football spring game to be aired on ESPN+

    Arkansas football spring game to be aired on ESPN+

    Spring football games have lost a bit of luster over the course of the last decade, going from must-see spectacles, to moderately-attended vanilla scrimmages.

    Still, it being football in America, many teams’ spring games can be seen on television and/or streaming. That’s the case with Arkansas’, too, as the Razorbacks will play April 13 at noon on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

    Arkansas will be going up against Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee all in the same time slot on the same day. An hour after those teams begin, LSU will get underway and two hours after that, Alabama and Ole Miss.

    Alabama and Texas are the only teams that will see their spring games aired on traditional television. The Crimson Tide’s game will air on ESPN and Texas will go on Longhorn Network on April 20 at 1 p.m. Auburn and Vanderbilt will have spring all-access shows instead of spring game telecasts.

    Missouri is the odd SEC team out this year. The Tigers’ spring game is scheduled for March 16.

    Story originally appeared on Razorbacks Wire

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  • 2024 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on where top 100 available free agents are signing this offseason

    2024 NFL free agency tracker: Updates on where top 100 available free agents are signing this offseason

    USATSI

    The 2024 NFL offseason figures to be chock-full of big-name player movement. All 32 teams can begin negotiations with pending free agents starting March 11 at 12 p.m. ET, and both signings and trades can be finalized starting March 13.

    Where are all the top free agents headed? Who’s still available?

    Below, you’ll find a running tracker of the top 100 free agents of 2024, compiled from senior columnist Pete Prisco’s annual ranking of the best veterans available. Check back regularly for updates throughout the offseason:

    2022 NFL Free Agent Tracker

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  • Michigan RB coach Mike Hart won’t return in 2024 as ex-Wolverines star departs staff after three seasons

    Michigan RB coach Mike Hart won’t return in 2024 as ex-Wolverines star departs staff after three seasons

    USATSI

    Michigan running backs coach Mike Hart will not return for the 2024 season, according to 247Sports. A former standout running back for the Wolverines, Hart spent the last three seasons as an assistant on former coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff where he coached three first-team All-Big Ten selections.

    Hart joined Harbaugh’s staff in 2021 after four seasons in the same position at Indiana. He was elevated to run-game coordinator in 2022, and in 2023 he served as co-interim head coach for Michigan’s win against UNLV while Harbaugh served a three-game suspension. 

    Under Hart, Michigan’s rushing attack paved the way to three straight Big Ten titles and a run to the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship. He helped Blake Corum become Michigan’s first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher since Denard Robinson as he also set the program rushing record with 58 scores on the ground in four years. Michigan led the Big Ten in rushing from 2021-22 and finished third in rushing yards per game in 2023. 

    As a player, Hart’s 5,040 career rushing yards still stand as a program record, and his 41 rushing touchdowns rank fourth among Michigan rushers. He was also a three-time All-Big Ten selection and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2006. 

    Hart’s departure is the latest shift in an offseason of change for Michigan football. Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers after guiding the Wolverines to a perfect season and a national title. Michigan turned to offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore as his replacement, and he’s been charged with rebuilding the staff as assistants leave…

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  • Kevin Byard signing sends clear message about Bears’ plans ahead of Caleb Williams decision

    Kevin Byard signing sends clear message about Bears’ plans ahead of Caleb Williams decision

    Kevin Byard signing sends clear message about Bears’ plans ahead of Caleb Williams decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

    Bears general manager Ryan Poles filled a key hole Sunday by signing veteran safety Kevin Byard to a two-year contract just one day before the NFL’s legal tampering window opens on Monday at 11 a.m. C.T.

    Byard is a 30-year-old, two-time All-Pro safety who will fill the hole vacated by Eddie Jackson’s release. Byard gives the Bears a free safety, whose skill set should mesh well with Jaquan Brisker. Byard is better in coverage than Jackson and a much surer tackler. Last season, Byard earned a coverage grade of 70.3, per Pro Football Focus, and only missed 4.7 percent of his tackles. Jackson earned a coverage grade of 60.0 and missed 15.6 percent of his tackles. Byard has also started 121 of 130 career games, which gives him a leg up on Jackson in the availability category.

    The signing of Byard checks an important box and sends a message about where Poles believes the Bears are at this point in the rebuild ahead of the expected decision to draft Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

    The Bears gave Byard a two-year, $15 million contract despite the market being flooded with veteran safeties from Justin Simmons to Xavier McKinney and Quandre Diggs.

    Poles could have let the safety market come to him and taken option B or C if Byard had signed elsewhere. Instead, Poles moved fast to lock down a proven veteran safety who should be a clear upgrade over Jackson in 2024 and 2025.

    If Poles didn’t believe the Bears were ready to start contending this fall, there is no reason to give a strong deal to a soon-to-be 31-year-old safety when it’s clear the NFL is devaluing safeties.

    Two years ago or even last year, Poles probably would have stayed patient and waited for a value signing at a preferred number. There’s no reason to jump the gun when realistic contention is far off.

    But the Bears clearly feel it’s no longer far…

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