Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have provided an important fitness update on injured spinner Varun Chakaravarthy ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) at Eden Gardens on Saturday.

Jody Demling, who has called 11 Preakness winners, reveals his picks for 2026 Preakness Stakes horses such as Iron Honor, Taj Mahal and Incredibolt

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool reacts towards Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park on May 15, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThere were moments where Liverpool looked themselves in Birmingham, but far more that reminded us all of the horrors weve sat through all season. This years version of Liverpool are very easy to play against, and Villa would have gotten quite the confidence boost given the ease of tearing the Premier League champions apart. Hard to determine exactly why this team has gone so wrong, but they travel back to Merseyside as deserving losers tonight.Talking TacticsAston Villa have been struggling somewhat in the league with their attention squarely on European football, and yet the first choice XI made Liverpool look like pretenders on Friday night. Liverpools tactics are remarkably weak in defense, both when it comes to defending set plays (even if the Liverpool captain also scored from two as well).Theres a lack of defensive vision and especially a lack of pressure in how Liverpool play at present, with opponents allowed a lot of time and space on the ball around the edges of the Liverpool box especially. The first Villa goal underscored all of these shortcomings: The Reds were slow to react to a short corner routine and failed to react effectively to the oppositions ball movement. The Reds are relatively easy to score against, which is worrying when its unclear exactly what a Liverpool goal looks like.Liverpool scored two and could perhaps have had a couple more, and its worrying that such an attack is not enough to come away with a win against a team who could perhaps been convinced not to care about the game as much as the final on their horizon. Instead, the Reds gave Villa nothing but hope with soft, slow defending. It was a forgettable affair, but one that showed all of this seasons shortcomings in 4k view.How The Manager ReactedAfter the match Arne Slot was asked just how damaging the loss was for his side, and helpfully broke down the ways:Damaging because we needed either a win or maybe, maybe, maybe two draws would have been enough as well. But now we know one thing for sure that we need a win next week if we have to do it ourselves. As we all know, other teams, of course, need to pick up points as well for us to need a win. So thats really damaging that we were not able to get a result, let alone a win here today. There were parts in the game where I felt a result could have gone our way. But I think what people are mainly focused on is the period after the 2-1 where we couldnt find any momentum anymore and we conceded two other goals. That was the most difficult period in the game.Further, he noted how frustrating it is to make the same mistakes every game:Its frustrating because as a manager youre also responsible for if things happen time and time again. You are hired to try to prevent that for the next time. We scored two set-pieces over here, so usually you think if you go to an away game or any game where you score two set-pieces, usually youre quite sure of a result unless you concede three set-pieces, what we did.So against [Manchester] United, against Chelsea, in this game again, we have a negative balance in set-pieces and that makes it really hard if you play against equal teams which United, Chelsea and Villa are to win a game of football, and again that was shown today. And the manner, of course, in which we conceded the 2-1, I think weve thought weve seen a lot this season this one we havent. But, of course, Dominik [Szoboszlai] has had and has a very good season and he doesnt do it on purpose and hes the first one who feels [bad] about it. But it happens and then afterwards we really, really, really struggled to find any momentum again.Though the Reds have a lot to play for on this seasons final outing, theres hope that a summer reset can fix the issues at the core of the side:I can understand at this moment in time that they dont have a lot of confidence or a lot of feeling that things can be much better next season, but I think they are then underestimating what a window can do, what a new start can do. I think we know quite well what to improve; I think one of the things we also have to improve is also very, very, very obvious and I would have preferred not to talk about it here, but youre actually almost forcing me to.If you miss nine players that can start a game of football and almost all of them are starters for us, or have been for large parts of the season starters for us, then if you add that to what you can improve in a window and add that to players that are playing for the second season in the Premier League and I think we saw the adaptation to the Premier League for a few of them took some time, but thats now better and better that will automatically lead to much more, but thats my opinion and no-one has to agree with me.Even today, for large parts of the game we were close to a result but then when you are the better team you need to generate more chances, and if you have the chances you need to score them. We cannot concede as many set-pieces as weve conceded this season. I dont think the difference is so big, only doing in a few situations the right thing can already have a massive upwards possibility.What Happens NextQualifying for Europe becomes that much harder now, with both Brighton and Bournemouth still to play and with an outside chance of pipping the spot from the Reds. Liverpool need both to drop points this weekend, and will need a win on the final day. Even in a season lacking things to play for, the Reds have managed to add challenges when it could all be done and dusted by now. Brighton travel to Leeds on Sunday and Bournemouth host Manchester City on Tuesday, and the Seagulls sit seventh on 53 points while Bournemouth are in sixth with 55. Neither can leapfrog the Reds with wins this week, but should one or both win their matchday 37 ties the final day of the season will be quite a bit more stressful. Should Aston Villa win their Europa League final match on the 20th then whoever is in sixth place will also qualify for Champions League football, which would take the stress off somewhat depending on how the rest of the weekend play goes.

In his first media availability since deciding to return to the Golden State Warriors for a 13th season, Steve Kerr was critical of the job he did in his 12th season as the head coach.

Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has questioned the hype surrounding Cole Palmer after his breakthrough season at Stamford Bridge in 2023-24. The Frenchman believes expectations have risen too quickly and insists the Blues still have major issues, particularly in defence. Gallas questions Palmer hype amid Chelsea struggles Palmer became the centrepiece of Chelseas project after arriving from Manchester City, enjoying a superb debut season with 25 goals, which brought individual recognition in the form of a PFA Young Player of the Year award win and high expectations. However, former Blues defender Gallas believes the reaction to Palmers rise has gone too far. Speaking about the current state of the squad, Gallas suggested the narrative around the 24-year-old attacker has become exaggerated. Gallas questions Palmers status Despite significant investment in the squad, the club has struggled to find defensive stability, conceding regularly and failing to establish a reliable back line. Gallas criticised both the teams attacking and defensive output while suggesting Palmer has not maintained the same impact that sparked first seasons hype. "When you look at the Chelsea defenders, they've let in so many goals. The strikers, they've barely scored any goals," Gallas told Gallas urges Chelsea to move for John Stones Gallas has suggested Chelsea should strengthen their defense by targeting Stones, who is set to leave City this summer, instead of Marcos Senesi. "Marcos Senesi is a good defender, he's had a good season with Bournemouth, and he's 29 years old, which means he's had more experience than some of the current Chelsea defenders," he added. "But the pressure will be different at a big club, and Senesi hasn't experienced that pressure." "John Stones will be a better option for Chelsea, he knows exactly what the pressure is to play for a big club and knows the feeling of winning trophies. Also, Stones will be leaving Manchester City for free in the summer. Chelsea have to try and sign him, he would organise the back line." Defense issues and appointment of a permanent manager While Palmer has been a key attacking outlet since arriving at Stamford Bridge, Chelseas defensive struggles remain a major issue. The club has spent heavily on defenders but has yet to form a consistent partnership capable of anchoring a push for the top four. Several names have been linked with the Blues ahead of the summer transfer window. However, they are also working to appoint a permanent manager following the sacking of Liam Rosenior in April.

Ronda Rousey says women are headlining WWE because of her influence. The former UFC champion reflected on her WWE run, womens evolution, and the resurfaced Becky Lynch WrestleMania controversy ahead of her MMA return.

Several notable names will miss the weekend at Aronimink Golf Club after failing to make the cut

As high school baseball postseasons get deeper, which teams are currently the best in the nation?With May midway through, USA TODAY Sports is looking at the championship contenders and teams with the strongest seasons, seeking an answer.The following composite is devised based on a formula that combines the rankings of Perfect Game, Baseball America, Prep Baseball Report, MaxPreps and USA TODAY High School Sports, earning a points total that provides an industry-wide look at the top teams in the country.WILD FINISH: South Walton baseball wins FHSAA 3A state title on walk-off suicide squeezeVenice (FL) and Tomball (TX) are neck-and-neck at the top, separated by a mere 3.4 points. Every outlet has these two in the top two spots; MaxPreps is the only one to have Tomball ahead of Venice.The rankings themselves are not completely uniform, and it's worth noting that Baseball America does not include IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) in its rankings.Without further ado, here are the top high school baseball teams in the country.1. Venice, FLScore: 288.82. Tomball, TXScore: 285.43. Orange Lutheran, CAScore: 258.24. Trinity, Louisville, KYScore: 2515. Norco, CAScore: 242.46. St. Laurence, Burbank, ILScore: 238.27. South Walton, Santa Rosa Beach, FLScore: 231.98. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, CAScore: 224.29. Keller, TXScore: 222.610. Calallen, Corpus Christi, TXScore: 217.411. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, CAScore: 210.612. IMG Academy, Bradenton, FLScore: 209.913. Magnolia Heights, Senatobia, MSScore: 203.614. Jesuit, Tampa, FLScore: 195.915. North Paulding, Dallas, Ga.Score: 184.916. Aledo, TXScore: 175.717. Pope, Marietta, GAScore: 142.418. Barbe, Lake Charles, LAScore: 140.219. Catholic High School, Baton Rouge, LAScore: 138.320. Delbarton, Morristown, N.J.Score: 135.421. Bishop Gorman, Las VegasScore: 135.322. Baylor, Chattanooga, TNScore: 118.623. Bishop Moore, Orlando, FLScore: 112.924. Stoneman Douglas, Parkland, FLScore: 107.525. Corona, CAScore: 105.226. Atascocita, Humble, TXScore: 99.727. Grapevine, TXScore: 99.128. Queen Creek, AZScore: 96.629. Centre Grove, Greenwood, INScore: 84.130. Valley View, Jonesboro, ARScore: 81.231. The Bennett School, Houston, TXScore: 74.3T-32. Conway, ARScore: 74.2T-32. De La Salle, Concord, CAScore: 74.234. Waxahachie, TXScore: 73.535. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, FLScore:72.236. Buford, GAScore: 67.537 Bishop Snyder, Jacksonville, FLScore: 63.038. The Stony Brook, NYScore: 62.739. Casteel, Queen Creek, AZScore: 62.340. D.H. Conley, Greenville, NCScore: 62.241. Pleasant Grove, Terkana, TXScore: 61.842. Berkeley Preparatory, Tampa, FLScore: 61.4T-43. Trinity Christian, FLScore: 60.3T-43. Dorman, Roebuck, SCScore: 60.345. Canterbury, Fort Myers, FLScore: 58.046. James Island, Charleston, SCScore: 57.447. North Oconee, Bogart, GAScore: 57.148. Etowah, Woodstock, GAScore: 52.249. Brother Martin, New Orleans, LAScore: 50.650. Huntington Beach, CAScore: 44.751. Katy, TXScore: 44.252. Midland, TXScore: 3653. Creekside, Fairburn, GAScore: 35.454. Rouse, Leander, TXScore: 34.855. Olentangy Liberty, Powell, OHScore: 33.656. Gloucester Catholic (NJ)Score: 33.257. Corona del Sol, Tempe, AZScore: 32.158. St. John's Country Day School, Orange Park, FLScore: 31.959. Providence, Charlotte, N.C.Score: 31.260. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va.Score: 30.761. Royal, CAScore: 29.962. Richland, WAScore: 28.363. Sam Houston, Lake Charles, LAScore: 27.664. Spruce Creek, Port Orange, FLScore: 26.465. Bucholz, Gainesville, FLScore: 25.266. Tri-Cities Prep, Pasco, WAScore: 24.867. Normal Community, ILScore: 24.768. True North Classical Academy, Miami, FLScore: 2469. Blue Valley, Stillwell, Kan.Score: 23.770. Brophy College Prep, Phoenix, AZScore: 23.271. Siegel, Murfreesboro, TNScore: 23.172. Houston Memorial, TXScore: 22.173. Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, CAScore: 2274. Hewitt-Trussville, ALScore: 21.875. Columbus, Miami, FLScore: 20.876. Prestonwood Christian, Plano, TXScore: 20.777. Saint Francis, Mountain View, CAScore: 17.678. Clackamas, ORScore: 15.679. Olathe East, KSScore: 14.480. Charlotte Christian, NCScore: 14.381. Madison, Vienna, VAScore: 13.682. Lyman Hall, Wallingford, CTScore: 12.883. Spanish Fork, UTScore: 11.784. Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati, OHScore: 10.485. Tuttle, OKScore: 9.186. North Broward Prep, Coconut Creek, FLScore: 8.487. Lockport Township, ILScore: 7.888. Farmington, MNScore: 6.589. Lincoln East, NEScore: 6.490. Calvary Christian, Clearwater, FLScore: 5.691. Arvada West, COScore: 5.292. Malvern Prep, PAScore: 4.093. Whitley County, KYScore: 3.994. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FLScore: 2.695. Fairfield Prep, CTScore: 2.496. Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, TXScore: 2.297. Zachary, LAScore: 1.298. Lone Peak HS, Highland, UT Score: 0.8This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See which teams top high school baseball national composite rankings

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In a darkened corner of the Miami Beach Convention Center, just a few yards removed from where he'd made a promotional appearance for AT&T, former Miami wide receiver Reggie Wayne a program legend gushed about the exploits of Hurricane freshman Malachi Toney, an electric wideout in his own right. "Him coming in, doing those things not only doing it, but doing it at an elite level man, its fantastic," Wayne told me in January, two days before Toney led Miami onto the field in the national championship game against Indiana. "Whenever you get somebody like that as a freshman creating havoc like that, it does nothing but just put Miami on everybodys minds all day and all night." Even in a losing effort, Toney proved capable of haunting the Hoosiers to a degree most first-year players can only dream about. He caught 10 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown to put a lasting exclamation point on a campaign few college football fans will soon forget. Toney received first-team All-ACC honors and was named the conference's Rookie of the Year after leading the entire country in receptions (109) and total touchdowns as a receiver (10), runner (1) and passer (2). Special is one of the only adequate words to describe the way Toney performed. As the 2026 season approaches, fans everywhere are wondering which newcomers might captivate college football the way Toney did, the way Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith did the year prior en route to winning the national championship. So with that, here are 10 potential impact freshmen capable of shaping the upcoming season: * Recruiting rankings and historical data courtesy of 247Sports. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 235 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 29 overall, No. 2 TE There were so many reasons for head coach Lincoln Riley to rejoice when Bowman gave his verbal commitment to USC on May 30, 2025, dousing even more lighter fluid on an already incandescent recruiting stretch for the Trojans. A five-star prospect and the No. 29 overall player in the country, Bowman became the poster child for Rileys retooled approach that dedicated significantly more time and resources to in-state prospects than at any point in his tenure. Not only was Bowman a highly coveted local product who played high school football less than an hour from the LA Memorial Coliseum, but he was also representative of the mended relationship between Rileys staff and powerhouse Mater Dei High School, a recruiting oasis for power-conference programs. Sitting second behind Notre Dame signee Ian Premer in this years tight end hierarchy, Bowman already has a Big Ten-ready frame that lends itself to positional versatility in Rileys creative offense. He also enters a relatively wide-open passing attack that needs to replace four of its five leading targets from last season: WR Makai Lemon (79 catches; 1,156 yards; 11 TDs), WR JaKobi Lane (49 catches; 745 yards; 4 TDs), TE Lake McRee (30 catches; 450 yards; 4 TDs) and TE Walker Lyons (20 catches, 223 yards, 2 TDs). Theres an opportunity for Bowman to earn immediate targets from veteran quarterback Jayden Maiava. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 220 poundsSchool: St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, MarylandRanking: No. 5 overall, No. 1 edge Amid a dismal stretch of back-to-back seasons in which Maryland produced identical 4-8 overall records and unsightly 1-8 marks in conference play, an impressive run on the recruiting trail has kept head coach Mike Locksley afloat. Locksley, the former offensive coordinator at Alabama, strung together six consecutive top-40 classes from 2020-25 to inject a downtrodden program with much more high-end talent. He signed four players rated among the top 10 recruits in program history during that stretch OLB Terrence Lewis, WR Rakim Jarrett, S Nick Cross and edge rusher Chop Robinson while also identifying a quarterback in Taulia Tagovailoa who finished as the Big Tens all-time passing leader with 11,256 yards. Locksley outdid all of that last December when he secured the signature of Elee, a five-star edge rusher holding additional scholarship offers from Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, USC and Notre Dame, among others. Elee instantly became the highest-rated prospect to ever sign with the Terrapins, narrowly edging former Maryland wide receiver Stefon Diggs in 2012. The expectation is that Elee should earn immediate playing time for a defense that has lost five players to the NFL Draft over the last two years and ranked 10th in the Big Ten for sacks last season. Height: 6-foot-6Weight: 321 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 25 overall, No. 3 OT Beginning with the first recruiting class head coach Jedd Fisch put together after leaving Arizona for Washington ahead of the 2024 season, his desire to flood the trenches with bigger bodies was readily apparent. He wanted taller offensive linemen, lengthier defensive linemen and frames capable of adding significant mass on both sides of the ball. "Remember," Fisch said at Big Ten Media Days that summer, "we're going to always recruit guys that can play in the NFL. The NFL doesn't like small." Which is probably why, in the not-so-distant future, scouts and general managers alike will become quite fond of Greene, a stud offensive tackle who flipped his commitment from Oregon to Washington last spring. Greenes frame wouldnt look out of place in an NFL training camp, despite the fact that hes only 18. There are sky-high expectations surrounding Greene, who is the sixth highest-rated recruit in program history and the highest-rated offensive lineman to join the Huskies since Nathan Rhodes in 2002. He received rave reviews from teammates and coaches while working at left tackle during spring practice, the position vacated by veteran Carver Willis, a fourth-round pick in last months NFL Draft. Green is expected to be Washingtons opening day starter at left tackle to protect the blindside of star quarterback Demond Williams Jr., a potential Heisman Trophy contender. How close the Huskies come to reaching the College Football Playoff might hinge on Greenes development. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 295 poundsSchool: University Lab High School in Baton Rouge, LouisianaRanking: No. 3 overall, No. 1 ATH How important was it to preserve the commitment from this five-star defensive tackle to newly hired head coach Lane Kiffin, whose prolonged "will-he-or-wont-he" saga regarding a possible departure from Ole Miss put the Tigers recruiting class in jeopardy last December? Important enough for Kiffin, who was cursed off the tarmac by frustrated Rebels fans, to arrange some face time with Brown hours after arriving in Baton Rouge. A picture of Kiffin and Brown, whose high school is located on the LSU campus, quickly made the rounds on social media. Brown had been verbally pledged to the Tigers since July 10, at which point Brian Kelly was still in charge, and whether he would re-open his commitment following the coaching change represented a key storyline ahead of the early signing period. Kiffin and his then-piecemeal coaching staff succeeded in convincing Brown to sign with LSU on Dec. 5, the final day of the early window, giving the Tigers a crown jewel in a recruiting class that finished 11th nationally. Though Brown checked in at No. 3 overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings, he was viewed as the top overall prospect by ESPN, giving the Tigers their first No. 1 recruit since running back Leonard Fournette in 2014. Brown, who will concentrate on playing defensive end for LSU, earned All-State and All-America honors as both an offensive and defensive linemen in high school. He also won state championships in shot put and discus as a member of the track and field team. Height: 6-foot-5Weight: 195 poundsSchool: Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaRanking: No. 14 overall, No. 2 WR Nearly three years have passed since Henry first committed to Ohio State, delighting the Buckeyes and then-wide receivers coach Brian Hartline with yet another wideout for the sports best pipeline at that position. With so much time between Henrys initial commitment and last Decembers early signing period, when he could finally put pen to paper, the recruiting efforts from Hartline and head coach Ryan Day were as much about retention and maintenance as they were initial attraction. Then, Hartline left to become the head coach at South Florida on the same day the signing window officially opened, tossing one last wrench into Henrys recruitment. Conference rival Oregon decided to mount a late push. The Ducks did enough to give Henry pause, leading him to delay his final decision by two days and triggering consternation around Ohio State. Ultimately, though, Henry followed in the footsteps of so many blue-chip receivers in recent years and reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes. He enrolled early to participate in offseason workouts and then delighted fans during the spring game by catching four passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. The departure of veteran wideout Carnell Tate, who became the programs sixth receiver drafted in the first round since 2022, opened a clearer path toward early playing time for Henry. He and unquestioned No. 1 target Jeremiah Smith could form one of the most physically imposing receiver tandems in the country. Height: 6-foot-4Weight: 215 poundsSchool: Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North CarolinaRanking: No. 10 overall, No. 3 QB For the second time in the last four recruiting cycles, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel landed a five-star quarterback with the requisite size and skill to contribute immediately. His first such signee was Nico Iamaleava, whose career quickly became synonymous with one of the sports first eye-popping NIL deals, an agreement reportedly worth $8 million. Iamaleava went on to spend two seasons with the Volunteers and led them to the College Football Playoff in 2024 before transferring to UCLA. He remains the highest-rated quarterback signee in program history. Right behind him, though, is Faizon, a budding star with scholarship offers from seemingly every blue blood in the country: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon, to name a few. The only quarterbacks ranked ahead of Faizon in the 2026 class were Keisean Henderson, who signed with Houston, and Jared Curtis, who signed with Vanderbilt. With Heupel declining to name a starter during spring practice, the competition between Faizon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre is expected to continue into fall camp. MacIntyre only logged 11 snaps last season while serving as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Joey Aguilar and backup Jake Merklinger, who transferred to UConn. Height: 5-foot-11Weight: 205 poundsSchool: Jackson High School in Jackson, AlabamaRanking: No. 15 overall, No. 2 RB Alabama produced three draft picks across the opening two rounds of this years NFL Draft in offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (No. 12 overall), quarterback Ty Simpson (No. 13 overall) and wide receiver Germie Bernard (No. 47 overall), but in many ways, that collection of personnel only underscored the offensive imbalance that plagued the Crimson Tide last season. Despite running the ball 466 times tied for 59th nationally and seventh-most in the SEC head coach Kalen DeBoers team ranked 125th in rushing yards per game (104.1) and 126th in yards per carry (3.4). Running back Jam Miller, a seventh-round pick by the New England Patriots, was the only tailback to eclipse 284 yards. When Indiana limited the Crimson Tide to just 23 rushing yards in a lopsided CFP quarterfinal, the offense reached an unsightly nadir. DeBoer and his staff know theyll need to run the ball more effectively in 2026 to avoid a third consecutive four-loss season, which hasnt happened at Alabama since the early 1980s. Tailbacks Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and AK Dear are all back for another year, but Crowell is the player generating plenty of early buzz. Even after reclassifying, Crowell is still the fourth-best running back recruit in program history behind Najee Harris (2017), Trent Richardson (2009) and Trey Sanders (2019). Hes expected to be an immediate contributor this fall. Height: 6-feetWeight: 210 poundsSchool: Louisa County High School in Mineral, VirginiaRanking: No. 12 overall, No. 1 RB Even though Sherrone Moore was fired after the early signing period had come and gone he was dismissed on Dec. 10 when Michigan announced it found "credible evidence" of an inappropriate relationship with a staffer there was still plenty of re-recruiting for the newly hired Kyle Whittingham to maneuver. Those efforts almost certainly revolved around Hiter and five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows (No. 9 overall, No. 4 edge), two ultra-high-end prospects the Wolverines pursued by mirroring the strategy that landed them former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood during the previous cycle. Hiter drew rave reviews from teammates and coaches during spring practice, with Whittingham going so far as saying the true freshman will earn significant playing time from the outset of his career. The departure of starting tailback Justice Haynes via the transfer portal he landed at Georgia Tech after carrying 121 times for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury last fall creates an immediate opening for Hiter in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense. Veteran Jordan Marshall, who carried 150 times for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, including four consecutive 100-yard games from mid-October to mid-November, is expected to enter fall camp atop the depth chart to form one of the leagues best pairings at that position. Height: 6-foot-8Weight: 330 poundsSchool: Nixa High School in Nixa, MissouriRanking: No. 2 overall, No. 1 OT By the time Miami upset Ohio State in the quarterfinals of last years College Football Playoff, it became clear that the Hurricanes combination of immense size and strength along the offensive line made them legitimate national championship contenders. Right tackle Francis Mauigoa, who became a first-round pick by the New York Giants, was listed at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds. Left tackle Markel Bell, who became a third-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, was listed at 6-foot-9 and 345 pounds. Together, they leaned on undersized edge rushers and defensive tackles alike until Miami had mauled its way to a title game appearance. Ordinarily, replacing such high-level offensive tackles would be a daunting task for most coaching staffs. But Miami head coach Mario Cristobal, an offensive line coach by trade, scored what was unquestionably the biggest recruiting win of his burgeoning tenure when he signed five-star tackle Jackson Cantwell, considered by many to be the best player in the country. Cantwell, who will likely start immediately at left tackle, is the highest-rated offensive line signee in program history and the second-best prospect to join Miami in the recruiting rankings era, trailing only linebacker D.J. Williams in 2000. He should play a pivotal role in protecting transfer quarterback Darian Mensah, formerly of Duke, for a program that expects to reach the playoff for a second straight season. Height: 6-foot-3Weight: 230 poundsSchool: Nashville Christian School in Nashville, TennesseeRanking: No. 4 overall, No. 2 QB Rumblings surrounding what many considered a potentially paradigm-altering flip began to swirl several days before the early signing period last December. Could SEC afterthought Vanderbilt, which had finished above .500 just once in the preceding 11 seasons and only four times this century, really convince five-star quarterback Jared Curtis to renege on a verbal commitment to national powerhouse Georgia? Those kinds of things dont usually happen in college football, even when the player in question is being wooed by a hometown team. Which is why it was still relatively shocking when rumor became reality on Dec. 2 and Curtis, whod been committed to Georgia for more than a year, spurned the Bulldogs in favor of Vanderbilt. He signed with the Commodores one day later. Fast-forward to the present and Curtis, the only five-star signee in program history, is squarely in contention to become a day-one starter this fall. Reports from spring practice suggest that he matched or exceeded the lofty expectations heaped onto him by fans and analysts alike, flashing an enticing combination of arm strength and athleticism that should get him on the field this fall. His primary challenger is senior Blaze Berlowitz, a former three-star prospect and New Mexico State transfer entering his third season with the Commodores. Berlowitz made six appearances in 2025 but has never started a game for Vanderbilt. It seems unlikely that he will hold off Curtis much longer.