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Dahkari Gilley has a strong skillset and has shown the ability to be a playmaker in the secondary. In early June, Gilley committed to Rutgers football on an official visit.

The three-star recruit from Florida is a member of the 2024 recruiting class. At 6-foot-2 and 190-pounds, he certainly is built for the position at the Big Ten level. A member of the class of 2024 out of University Christian (Jacksonville, FL), Gilley also held Power Five offer from Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech at the time of his commitment to Rutgers.

He also has been offered by Central Florida, USF, FAU, UMass, Liberty and Georgia Southern among others.

Former NFL cornerback Antonio Cromartie took a look at the highlight film of Gilley. Cautioning that they are only highlights, Cromartie sees some strong components to Gilley’s game.

“Plays at the line scrimmage, has good ball skills shows a willingness to tackle. Looks long and athletic,” Cromartie told Rutgers Wire of Gilley’s Hudl.

“I like him, but I would like to see actual film on him to have a better understanding of his skills. Highlights only show so much.”

Cromartie is a former first round pick out of Florida State who spent 11 seasons in the NFL. He was four times a Pro Bowl selection and once an All-Pro.

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In 2010, he helped lead the New York Jets to the AFC Championship Game.

Over the last two years, Cromartie was in the SEC as a cornerbacks coach with Texas A&M. He liked the skillset Gilley brought to the field although highlights are certainly not the best way to evaluate a player.

“He’s always around the football from his highlights,” Cromartie said.

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DeAndre Hopkins visited the New England Patriots last week and left without a deal. Given where we’re at in the offseason, it shouldn’t be surprising Hopkins doesn’t yet have a contract — just three weeks after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

Any team can sign Hopkins over the next several weeks, but one of his biggest recruiters to New England may have provided an indication of where his next destination will be. Patriots Pro Bowl edge rusher Matt Judon sent out a cryptic tweet this weekend that may have something to do with Hopkins and New England. 

Judon tweeted this out days after Hopkins visited the Patriots. He also just happened to pose a photo with the star wideout during his visit. Judon has made pitches to players in the past, notably Bobby Wagner, Odell Beckham Jr., and Chandler Jones. 

Of course, Judon also smiled when asked about Hopkins this week and said he doesn’t run his Twitter. 

“DeAndre Hopkins is a free agent. If I know him as a friend or as a confidant it doesn’t matter,” Judon said earlier this week. “He’s a great player. He did amazing things and wherever he lands, he lands. If it’s here, it’s here. Then we can talk about him.”

Judon added fuel to the fire earlier this week when a Twitter user pledged to donate $500 to a charity of Hopkins’ choosing if he signed with the Patriots. The Patriots pass rusher added even more incentive.

Even if Judon’s tweet is about the Patriots signing Hopkins, there’s one thing to keep in mind: Hopkins doesn’t have to sign with any team for the next several weeks, as all 32 franchises are on their “summer break” before training camp. Signing with a franchise at this point makes little sense, with players (and coaches) spending the next several weeks outside the facilities before training camps begin in late July. 

Hopkins has an opportunity to create a market for himself in the weeks leading up to camp, when he…

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Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bob Brown, known for his aggressive and intimidating style of play in the 1960s and early 70s, died on Friday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced.

“Bob Brown demonstrated different personalities on and off the field,” Hall president Jim Porter said in a statement Saturday. “On the field, he was as fierce an opponent as any defensive linemen or linebacker ever faced. He used every tactic and technique – and sometimes brute force – to crush the will of the person across the line from him. And took great pride in doing so.

“Yet off the field, he demonstrated a quiet, soft-spoken and caring nature that his son, Robert Jr., captured eloquently when he presented his dad for enshrinement in 2004. The Hall extends its thoughts and prayers to CeCe and Robert Jr. for their loss,” Porter said.

An All-American at the University of Nebraska, Brown led the Cornhuskers to a conference title in his final season in 1963. He would be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Once called “the most aggressive lineman that ever played” by the legendary John Madden, Brown was selected with the No. 2 pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1964 NFL Draft. The towering 6-foot-4 and 280 pound lineman made an immediate impact with the Eagles, where he made three All-Pro teams in his five years with the team.

After requesting a trade ahead of the 1969 season, Brown was dealt to the Los Angeles Rams, where he continued his success by earning All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition in his two years with the team. During his first year with the Rams, the team allowed only 17 sacks in 416 pass attempts.

Following his stint with the Rams, Brown was traded to the then-Oakland Raiders in 1971, now known as the Las Vegas Raiders, where he played under Madden. Recurring knee injuries would force Brown to retire in 1973.

“Bob was the most intimidating player I’ve ever seen. I had opponents come up to me during games and say, ‘Gene, tell…

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The USFL is back for its second season — four decades after its original incarnation from 1984 to 1986 — and there will be a few changes.

All the league’s regular season games were held in Birmingham last year, but three new venues have been added to the mix for 2023: Memphis, Canton and Detroit. Birmingham, home to the defending champion Stallions, will also be a host.

The 10-week regular season kicks off on April 15. The top two teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs, with semifinals on June 24-25. The USFL Championship Game will be played in Canton on July 1.

Here’s a look at the full schedule (check out all our USFL coverage here):

Week 1

Philadelphia Stars 27, Memphis Showboats 23

Birmingham Stallions 27, New Jersey Generals 10

Michigan Panthers 29, Houston Gamblers 13

New Orleans Breakers 22, Pittsburgh Maulers 15

Week 2 

New Orleans Breakers 38, Houston Gamblers 31

Birmingham Stallions 42, Memphis Showboats 2

New Jersey Generals 20, Pittsburgh Maulers 3

Michigan Panthers 24, Philadelphia Stars 10

Week 3

New Orleans Breakers 45, Birmingham Stallions 32

Houston Gamblers 30, Memphis Showboats 26

Pittsburgh Maulers 21, Philadelphia Stars 13

New Jersey Generals 28, Michigan Panthers 13

Week 4

Houston Gamblers 41, Philadelphia Stars 16

Memphis Showboats 29, Michigan Panthers 10

New Orleans Breakers 20, New Jersey Generals 17

Birmingham Stallions 24, Pittsburgh Maulers 20

Week 5

Pittsburgh Maulers 23, Michigan Panthers 7

Houston Gamblers 27, Birmingham Stallions 20

Philadelphia Stars 24, New Jersey Generals 21

Memphis Showboats 17, New Orleans Breakers 10

Week 6

Memphis Showboats 22, Pittsburgh Maulers 0

Birmingham Stallions 27, Michigan Panthers…

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As we continue our Denver Broncos position previews ahead of the 2023 NFL season, we’re taking a look at special teams today and the five main positions for those units — kicker, punter, long snapper, punt returner and kick returner.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton made sweeping changes to special teams this offseason. First, Payton brought in a new special teams coordinator in Ben Kotwica and a new assistant head coach with a special teams background in Mike Westhoff.

Payton then changed the team’s personnel, making a change a punter, a change at long snapper, a change at kick returner, a change at punt returner and a change at kicker. The special teams units underwent a complete overhaul this offseason.

Be sure to also check out our 2023 position previews for running back, tight end/fullback, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety.

Broncos’ (Projected) Special Teams Depth Chart

Kicker: TBD

(AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

After parting ways with Brandon McManus, the Broncos signed Elliott Fry. Payton has said that the team will continue monitoring the kicker market, though, so there’s no guarantee that Fry will be the team’s Week 1 kicker. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver claim a kicker off waivers in August.

(Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports)

The Broncos signed Dixon to a two-year deal during free agency and then cut Corliss Waitman. This will mark Dixon’s second stint in Denver.

After allowing Jacob Bobenmoyer walk in free agency, the Broncos are turning to Fraboni, who snapped in four games last year while Bobenmoyer was injured. At the moment, Fraboni is the only long snapper on the roster.

(Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports)

Smith returned 40 kickoffs for 954 yards over the last two seasons with the Texans. He signed a two-year deal with the Broncos this offseason and now appears poised to handle kickoff return duties in 2023.

Punt returner: Marvin Mims

Mims averaged 16 yards per…

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