INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Denzel Boston of the Washington Huskies participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesWith the NFL Draft next week, over the next few days, well be bringing you profiles of every Husky eligible to be drafted. We begin with the Huskies WR1, Denzel Boston.The BasicsHeight: 63 5/8Weight: 212 LBSArm Length: 32Hand Size: 9 3/4thsVertical Jump: 3520 Yard Shuttle: 4.28 RecruitmentBoston, out of Puyallup, Washington, was the 17th rated receiving prospect out of the state of Washington in 2019, according to 247 Sports, and the 146th rated receiver nationally. Before committing to Washington, Boston had offers from Arizona, Arizona State, WSU, Nevada, both Oregon schools, and Penn State, among others.College CareerFor the first 2 years of his college career, Boston sat behind the likes of Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and JaLynn Polk, recording 2 catches for 15 yards in 2022 and 5 catches for 51 yards in 2023. But reports coming out of fall camp suggested that he had future star power. That star power was finally realized under Coach Fischs pro style system, as in 2024, Boston tallied 63 catches for 834 yards and 9 touchdowns. His star power was most realized in man to man coverage, as his 63 frame and great hands made him a matchup nightmare.He took a further step in 2025, with 62 catches for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns. His toughness and acceleration were on full display last year, with his best game coming against Illinois, which saw him grab 10 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing a touchdown pass. He closed out his college career with a 6 catch, 126 yard performance in the LA Bowl, which saw him sprint 76 yards untouched to the end zone for his final college touchdown. All told, his college career closed with 132 catches, 1781 yards and 20 touchdowns.StrengthsThe most obvious strength for Boston is his frame. At 63 and 213 pounds, he presents a tough cover for any DB especially inside the 20. Couple that with great acceleration, and you have a future WR1. He can also adjust his body and come back to the football about as well as anybody in this class. Additionally, he runs very well with the ball, fighting for the extra yards and putting his head down. It seemed like he ran routes very well and used that route running ability and vertical leap to get open for big gains.Something that doesnt get talked about as much is that Boston is actually a willing blocker. He put up a 77.1 Run Block grade according to PFF last year, and that ability to block will prove valuable for any NFL team.WeaknessesBoston was never the fastest guy, preferring instead to box out corners and win with positioning. Against the elite in the Big Ten (Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan in 2025), his numbers left a little to be desired. Along with not being the fastest guy without the ball, he didnt make very many people miss with the ball in his hands either, preferring instead to break tackles for extra yardage. NFL Comparisons/Mock DraftBoston currently projects somewhere in the mid to late first round range, anywhere from 11 to 32, according to Mock Draft Database. According to NFL.com, his most apt comparison is Puka Nacua.

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Defending a state championship is never easy, but the Sioux Falls Jefferson softball team is off to as good a start as it could ask for. The Cavaliers are 5-0 after a pair of dominant wins on Friday, April 17, and have a few big matchups lined up soon.Jefferson is doing it on both sides of the ball, with the pitching tandem of Tya Devericks and Makenzie Bierman allowing five runs in as many games and the offense posting 53 runs and three games in double figures.That balance was on display Friday, with the Cavaliers beating Eden Prairie (MN) 5-2 and St. Louis Park (MN) 16-0. Devericks punched out 11 batters in the first game and Macy Bryant hit for the cycle in the second."The girls just continue to build on what we've done, but we're here now and this is a new team and we're playing for the 2026 season," Jefferson head coach Ed Whiting said.Pitching has been a staple for this program in the three years softball has been a sanctioned sport in South Dakota. Even with Whitney Portner having graduated, Whiting still feels the tandem of Devericks and Bierman is tops in the state."We had three of the top pitchers in the state," Whiting said. "Mak Bierman, she's a quality pitcher and in a lot of programs she'd be an ace as a freshman a year ago. But she came in relief a couple times for us."He attributed that partially to pitching development within the program, and partially to the girls taking it upon themselves to be the best they can be.The offense has looked as potent as ever at times this year, and that can help turn Jefferson from a fourth-seeded state champion to a powerhouse that's on top all season.Bryant feels a lot of that can be attributed to the team's cohesion and will to win."We put in all the effort at practice and we have a good relationship with everybody," Bryant said.Whiting knows his girls are the hunted now after winning a state title in 2025, but thinks they're handling it well so far. The Cavaliers have a statement win over Harrisburg to begin the season and are solely focused on what the 2026 team can do."That pressure's really not there because we drive in that this is a new year," Whiting said. "A lot of girls are back, but it's a new year with some new faces. What happened last year truly doesn't matter."Jefferson has some big-time spots coming up, with a state championship rematch with Sioux Falls Washington coming on Thursday, April 23. That's followed by a game against Sioux Falls Lincoln and a tournament at Sherman Park. The Cavaliers will be tested and know how good they really are by the time the postseason rolls around."I think we're confident but humble," Bryant said. "We're all excited to just play and see how it goes."This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Jefferson softball moves to 5-0 in defense of Class AA state title

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New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole officially began his rehab assignment on Friday, making his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in early 2025.Suiting up for the Somerset Patriots, the Yankees Double-A affiliate, Cole threw 4 1/3 innings with 3 hits allowed, 3 earned runs, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts on 44 pitches. While pitch-by-pitch data isnt available online, he reportedly hit 96 mph in the first inning.He was also throwing quite a curveball.Gerrit Cole strikeouts are BACKThe @Yankees ace picks up the first punchout of his rehab assignment on the curveball. pic.twitter.com/7Gxs0S2fDY Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 17, 2026Coles trouble came in the second inning, when he walked a batter then allowed an RBI double to Dylan Campbell and homer to Bryson Ware on back-to-back batters.Per MLB.com, Cole has been moving smoothly through rehab this year, with two short starts in spring training. His side session on Wednesday went well enough the Yankees decided to start the rehab assignment clock, which dictates that a player must be added back to the MLB roster within 30 days of the start of his rehab assignment. Tommy John patients may also receive three 10-day extensions.Cole is reportedly forecasted for a return in June, though he seemed happy with where he was earlier this week:I have no complaints, Cole said on Monday. The stamina was good. The pitches are fine right now. Theyre good. Im a little nitpicky, but everything is good. Without Cole, the Yankees are off to an 11-9 start after a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday. When Cole is healthy, they will be expecting to have one of the best pitchers in baseball back in a rotation currently headlined by Max Fried and Cam Schlittler.

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