Miami Columbus five-star athlete A'mir Sears commits to the Miami Hurricanes during a commitment ceremony at the Dick's House of Sports at the Dadeland Mall on July 31, 2026. (Adam Lichtenstein/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)Happy Monday, errrrrrbody. And happy August! We can officially say that college football is being played this month, which is always fun to do. And NFL football preseason kicks off this week, so well have some form or fashion of football to watch from now until the Super Bowl. A truly special week of the year this is. But Miami ended July with a huge bang, and lets talk about it. 1) The Hurricanes landed an absolutely elite talent on Friday with the commitment of Miami Columus athlete AMir Sears. Sears reclassified last week from the 2028 class to 2027 and quickly set his commitment for last Friday. Sears was the No. 2 overall player in 2028 for Rivals and No. 1 overall for 247 Sports, so I dont need to go much further into detail about his perceived impact. He remained a 5 star upon the reclassification to the 2027 class. Sears went into the bag by his feet at his commitment ceremony, pulled out the Miami hat, and flashed the U. 5-star A'mir Sears commits to the MIAMI HURRICANES! pic.twitter.com/OOaXKaPtrU Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) July 31, 20262) Want to know how big this is? Former Miami star Ahmmon Richards had some BIIIIIIIIG praise for Sears. I truly see another Travis Hunter archetype https://t.co/KTBgbbL6F5 Ahmmon Richards (@AhmmonR2) July 28, 2026Thats pretty big time praise there. But Sears fits the mold without a doubt. Last year, he totaled 49 catches for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Defensively, he posted 61 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. I dont remember which recruiting expert I saw mention it, but he said Sears is the best recruit to come out of South Florida since Jeremiah Smith. 3) And that brings me to my next point. For once, the absolute very best are beginning to stay in South Florida. Beyond Sears, 5-star Miami Carol City WR Nick Lennear is on board for 2027, making two of the very best in the region slotted to come to Coral Gables next year. But hell, who wouldnt want to come play for this Hurricanes team right now? They have the look of a title contender, are as aggressive as anyone in NIL, and have proven recent development and draft success. Weve seen the Patrick Petersons, the Calvin Ridleys, the Jeremiah Smiths of the world leave to go win big elsewhere. For too long. This could be the class that tips the scales back in Miamis favor. That starts to close the gate thats been swung wide the hell open for the State of Miami for two decades. It could, indeed be a return to making the best in South Florida stay there and win big. 4) And it could help foster success for Miami beyond just South Florida. 2028 5-star Jacksonville Mandarin WR Brysen Wright is on Sears radar, and hes already helping out. He shouted out to Wright, who visited Miami in June, on Instagram. Its a movement, folks. Jump on board. Go Canes!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 15: Clay Holmes #35 of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field on May 15, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Cubs busy Trade Deadline continues to be busy as the Cubs acquired right-hander Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets for Top-100 infield prospect Jefferson Rojas. TRADE The Mets are sending Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor to the Cubs in exchange for one of Chicago's top prospects, Jefferson Rojas pic.twitter.com/hEBLrOPwiq SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 3, 2026The deal is reportedly dependent on a medical review, which isnt a given considering Holmes is on the injured list at the moment. The talk all season has been how perfect the ground-ball pitcher Holmes would be with the Cubs infield defense. The Cubs have seen how much improved David Peterson has been after coming from the Mets to the Cubs, and the hope is that Holmes will be even better. Holmes, 33, had his right fibula broken on May 15 on a 111 mile per hour line drive comebacker. Hes been on the IL since then, but hes made three rehab starts and went 5.1 innings on Sunday for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Hes reportedly ready to be activated.But before he went down, Holmes was having the best year of his career. Over nine starts, Holmes was 4-4 with a 2.39 ERA. Holmes relies on his 93 mile per hour sinker and he induced an elite ground ball rate of 62 percent over the course of his career and 56 percent this year. Hes only allowed three home runs over 52 innings this year.Because of that groundball rate, pundits have been predicting that Holmes would excel if he got the Cubs infield defense behind him. To be fair, he wasnt bad with the Mets defense.The Mets turned Holmes into a starter, but he was an also an effective reliever with the Pirates and Yankees, serving as the Yankees closer for three seasons. Taylor, 32, is a backup outfielder with a good glove and some pop. He is hitting .241/.290/.503 with ten home runs in 67 games this year. Hes been on fire since late-June, hitting .354/.436/.875 with seven home runs in his last 24 games. Taylor also has decent speed and can play all three outfield positions. Both Holmes and Taylor can be free agents at the end of this season.The cost of these two players is extremely high, with the Cubs number-two prospect, shortstop Jefferson Rojas, going to the Mets. Rojas is an extremely-promising hitter, putting up a .270/.339/.461 with 15 home runs in 91 games in Double-A Knoxville at just 21 years old. Defensively hes more of a third baseman than a shortstop and thats where the Cubs have been playing him lately. But he could be an above-average defender at third.The Cubs are giving up a potential starting infielder in Rojas. But he became expendable with the development of Pedro Ramirez, who is currently producing in the majors and has similar upside. With the Cubs infield all under contract for the next three years and Matt Shaw (when healthy) and Pedro Ramirez fighting for playing time, it seemed like now was the time to sell on Rojas. The Cubs agreed and pulled the trigger on Holmes and Taylor for him.

The Yankees are close to making another addition, as they are finalizing a deal for OF Heliot Ramos.LHP Henry LaLane is expected to be the primary prospect going to the Giants in return, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Ramos gives the Yanks the right-handed bat they've been searching for.The former first-round pick got off to a bit of slow start to his career, but has established himself as a regular for the Giants the past three seasons, averaging a strong 1.5 WAR over that span.Most of that can be attributed to his contributions on offense.The one-time All-Star has produced 20+ homers and doubles in back-to-back seasons, and is well on pace to top that mark again with a combined 22 XBH's through 74 games this year.Ramos figures to provide a boost to a group that has struggled without Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger.

BEREA, OHIO - MAY 27: Mike Hall Jr. #51 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after being injured during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 27, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesIt is officially injury season in the NFL. Just as fans around the league get their first glimpse of the new team, the players who make up that team start to fall by the wayside. There is no silver bullet solution to keeping players healthy and on the field, for the most part it really just comes down to luck. But that doesnt make it feel any better.The one place that organizations and coaching staffs do have some control is over the preseason playing time. Its been a constant evolution and a good amount of contradiction. As the league adds another preseason game, starters see less and less of the field during those games. For the NFL Reacts survey this week we want to know what your theory of the case is in regards to preseason playing time. Should starting and key players be on the field as much as it takes to be in midseason form by Week 1? Should they be bubble wrapped for safe keeping until the games actually count? Maybe somewhere in between. Get your vote in now and be on the lookout for results later this week. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys:

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 28: Colton Joseph #2 of the Old Dominion Monarchs hands the ball to Aaron Young #5 of the Old Dominion Monarchs at Doyt Perry Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesWe are just over one month away from the season opener for the Wisconsin Badgers, where theyll take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Lambeau Field in Week 1.That will be the official start for new Badgers quarterback Colton Joseph, who was brought in from Old Dominion this offseason to run the show after being one of the top signal-callers in the Sun Belt last year.Making the jump to the Big Ten, Joseph will have a lot to prove this season as Wisconsin looks to improve dramatically on offense following a rough 2025 campaign. Hell have a new group of pass catchers to throw to, but its his rushing ability that is the most tantalizing.With Josephs dual-threat ability, Wisconsin should be able to run the football better in 2026, although that will also be dependent on growth from the offensive line. Joseph had over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns on the ground last year, including 179 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Indiana Hoosiers in the season opener for Old Dominion in 2025.So, it isnt much of a surprise that the Badgers quarterback was ranked as one of the Top 10 most elusive quarterbacks in College Football this season by CBS Sportss Cody Nagel.Heres a name that wasnt expected to appear on a list of the most elusive quarterbacks in college football. But a closer look at the numbers shows whyWisconsinand several others pursued the formerOld Dominionstar in the transfer portal, Nagel wrote about Joseph.No qualified Power Four quarterback enters the 2026 season with a higher career explosive rush rate thanColton Joseph(19.3%). Only one player in the entire FBS had more runs of at least 20 yards over the past two seasons than Joseph, who has 26 such carries in his career.Theres a bit of a trade-off with Joseph, who is also top 15 in yards after contact per rush (4.0) and yards per scramble (8.2). He may not consistently make defenders miss at the same rate as some of the quarterbacks ahead of him, but his ability to create explosive plays with his legs separates him from most quarterbacks in the country.Wisconsin has spent the past few seasons searching for stability at quarterback, with injuries playing a major role in limiting its options. If Joseph can buck that trend and stay healthy, the Badgers may finally have a quarterback capable of providing the explosive element their offense has been missing.At No. 10, Joseph made the list over Auburns Byrum Brown, Wake Forests Gio Lopez, USCs Jayden Maiava, Oklahoma States Drew Mestemaker, and Houstons Connor Weigman.Heres the full Top 10:1. Malik Washington (Maryland)2. Kamario Taylor (Mississippi State)3. Sam Leavitt (LSU)4. Arch Manning (Texas)5. Devon Dampier (Utah)6. Will Hammond (Texas Tech)7. Bryce Underwood (Michigan)8. Demond Williams Jr. (Washington)9. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)10. Colton Joseph (Wisconsin)Of course, with a rushing quarterback, there is the natural worry of injury, which Wisconsin has had plenty of at quarterback over the last few seasons. But Josephs rushing ability should force defenses to respect the quarterback and, in turn, open up the run game more.

The New York Yankees are continuing to bolster their lineup in the final hour ahead of Monday's MLB trade deadline. New York has agreed to a deal to acquire outfielder Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants, ESPN reported. Ramos, 26, is putting up another productive season at the plate for the Giants. He's hitting .264 with a .728 OPS, nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 74 games this season. Ramos, who was an All-Star in 2024, hit 43 total homers in the previous two seasons. The Yankees' move for Ramos came a day after they acquired first baseman Luis Garcia from the Washington Nationals. New York's moves for Ramos and Garcia show a clear desire to upgrade their lineup as they've struggled at the plate since Aaron Judge's injury in early August. Garcia had led the National League in slugging percentage prior to Sunday's trade. While New York has struggled offensively with Judge out of the lineup, the Yankees remain in the thick of the AL East race. They're 63-49 entering Monday, putting them 2.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first place.

Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is coming off a torn Achilles tendon, but you wouldn't know that from seeing him at training camp.That's the word from teammates, who say Jones looks as good as ever on the practice field."He looks like he never got hurt," tight end Mo Alie-Cox said, via Colts.com. "He's throwing dimes left and right on the field, getting out the pocket, scrambling and different things like that."Colts guard Quenton Nelson said Jones is doing everything he could do last season."He's been incredible. He's back like he's never left," Nelson said. "He worked so hard to get here. It's been awesome to see."Until Jones is facing defenders who can hit him in live action, expectations should be tempered. But the early returns suggest he's on track to make the Achilles injury a distant memory when the Colts open the regular season against the Ravens on September 13.

Injuries have not been kind to the New York Yankees outfield, so theyre bringing in some outside help at the MLB trade deadline.The Yankees are acquiring San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos in exchange for a prospect package believed to be headlined around pitcher Henry LaLane, according to MLB.coms Mark Feinsand.Ramos himself reportedly confirmed the deal to Giants reporters.Heliot Ramos: Im a Yankee. I just found out right now. Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) August 3, 2026The Yankees entered this years deadline with outfield as a clear need. That wasnt supposed to be the case entering the season, but Aaron Judge has now been out since June due to a rib stress fracture while Cody Bellinger just hit the injured list with a hamstring strain.Enter Ramos, who isnt a perfect solution but represents a clear upgrade from the group New York has now. Ramos also presents some value when everyone is healthy thanks to a .292/.343/.492 slash line against left-handers this season. Ramos is the second notable bat the Yankees have acquired at this deadline, after Washington Nationals infielder Luis Garcia Jr. The Yankees entered Monday with a 63-49 record and are 2.5 games back from the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, who made their own upgrade with Freddy Peralta.

Here is everything Houston Texans Pro Bowl cornerback Kamari Lassiter said after the first day of training camp in pads on Monday, including center Keylan Rutledges physicality in practice, safety Reed Blankenship, the Texans bringing back defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and how quarterback C.J. Stroud is commanding the offense more than last season.Question: On whether he is seeing competitiveness with offense during practiceKamari Lassiter: I feel like just being here its going to be competitive. Any day we step on that field, they want to win, we want to win. Being out here, being in pads, being able to play real football, it feels great. Everyone's got the energy flowing. Everyone wants to win, so its a great feeling.Q: On taking it one day at a time during training campLassiter: You just have to realize that its a marathon. Its a long season. Training camp is the beginning, but every day you want to get better. If we have a common goal and were all trying to reach that goal, you take each and every day with a sense of gratitude and you attack it like you don't have the next one.Q: On C/G Keylan Rutledge getting physical in practiceLassiter: Yeah, I love it. Its football. Theres a lot of aggression that comes with football, so him playing with just that kind of style, it doesnt bother me at all. I dont think it bothers anyone on the defense or on the offense, really. Its just we all have the same mentality of, youre not going to one-up me. Youre not going to outdo me on the football field. Its just competition and we love it.Q: On how much of a factor S Reed Blankenship adds to the defenseLassiter: Any time you can add a really good football player to your team, its great. Reed is a good football player. He came in and he meshes really well with us. He plays with confidence. He plays fast. He plays physical. Hes just like one of us. We get along really well. We communicate really well. Its going to be real fun this year.Q: On what he sees from CB Jaylin SmithLassiter: Roc is different. I tell him that every single day. Roc is so different. Yall are going to finally get to be able to see him be his true self and be able to play freely and make plays out there. I cant wait to see him get on the field. Hes special.Q: On what is different about him this seasonLassiter: Ill just say whats different about me is the way that Im attacking it. Im trying to attack it from a smarter standpoint. I have the mentality. I just want to be able to become a smarter football player, understand whats coming before it comes, understand the nuances of defenses, understand the nuances of offenses and just try and get better with the mental side of the game.Q: On whether he notices a difference between WR Jayden Higgins compared to last seasonLassiter: Its just like all of us, he just continues to get better. Every day you can tell that hes adding something to his bag, whether its route running or whether its precision. Hes playing with confidence. Hes out there catching every ball that comes his way. Hes a really good player; hes always been a really good player. Hes only going to continue to go up and up.Q: On his comfort level of playing with S Calen Bullock for the third yearLassiter: It's literally like playing ball with my brother. I don't even have to talk to him on the field. Most of the time we dont talk, we just look and then were going about our business because I already know. Playing with him is just such a joy. Weve been in this system for going on three years now. Its almost like second nature. Were just out there riding bicycles.Q: On the reports of DE Jadeveon Clowney joining the team, and how he would fit in the defenseLassiter: I think he fits perfectly. I feel like he has that same mentality that we have on the defense and Im excited.Q: On what he has noticed about QB C.J. Stroud this season compared to last seasonLassiter: I feel like C.J. is definitely commanding more from the offense as a whole. I feel like every year Ive seen him, hes always commanded a lot but this year I feel like hes putting more of that weight on his shoulders. I feel like its really good. I feel like hes taking everything with a sense of intentionality, a lot of urgency and its good to see. Hes challenging us. Hes making really good throws like he always has, but its like you can just tell theres a little bit more to him, I can just tell.Q: On how comfortable he feels wearing No. 3 this seasonLassiter: I feel great. This is my number. This is really me. Ive always wanted to be in three. I knew from the moment I got here that there was going to be a time where I got back in my number, and it just feels right.Q: On his process of getting excited for practice everydayLassiter: When I wake up, Im ready. Im not going to lie. Its like as soon as I open my eyes, Im like, All right, lets do it.Q: On whether he can feel the advantages of keeping the same teammates and coaches on the defenseLassiter: Definitely. The years that you put in with each other, you just use that as a competitive advantage. You understand how youre going to get coached. You understand how coach is coming from or what point hes coming from and coach understands what youre seeing out there. It just helps us all grow because we all want to win. As long as we can all get to the same common goal, it just makes it a lot easier.Q: On how the defense will try to forget last seasons success and reload for this seasonLassiter: Its easy to flush it out. You dont live off the past. The past doesnt bring you success in the present or in the future. If youre living off the past, then youre getting worse. You either get better or you get worse. If youre trying to live off past success, then thats not the way to be great.Q: On whether there is a player in the secondary who has been an underrated standoutLassiter: Collin [Wright]. Collin, the new rookie in our cornerback room. Hes a really good player. He comes in every day. Hes super talented. Hes really quiet, so you dont really hear about him a lot. Hes out there making plays day in, day out. Since the spring, hes made a lot of plays. [Alijah] Huzzie, Steve-O [Stephen Hall], J-Mark [JaMarcus Ingram]. Do you want me just to name the whole secondary? Im going to name everybody. I just feel like all my guys, theyre just really outstanding players. Everyone doesnt get the recognition that they should, but there are a lot of guys out there making plays.Q: On the first time he realized WR Jayden Higgins had taken another step in his gameLassiter: I knew Higg was good last year. When he first stepped foot in this door, he was NFL ready. You take the offseason to just work on whatever you feel like you need to work on. Obviously, hes worked on a lot of things. Hes bigger, hes faster, hes stronger. Hes running routes the way he wants to. Hes running with precision. Hes running with power. Hes playing with confidence. I feel like it might not be that hes gotten better. It just might be hes more comfortable in the system. Hes more confident. I just feel like hes playing with that confidence.Q: On players being leaders in the locker roomLassiter: I feel like the best teams are player-led teams. Obviously, the coaches and the staff, they have a standard that they want. They have a common goal, but whenever the players are all bought into the same goal and were all leading each other whether its individually or by example or vocally, thats how good teams become great, and thats how you win championships. I really feel like you coach players, not plays. Its really on the players.This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans CB Kamari Lassiter said after Day 5 of training camp

With college football preseason practices just about to begin, the national awards committees have begun the process of nominating candidates for the top awards.Army senior quarterback Cale Hellums is one of four signal callers in the American Conference to be named to the preseason watch list by the Maxwell Football Club committee. The other American quarterbacks are Navy's Braxton Woodson, Cade McCown of Texas San Antonio and Caden Veltkamp of Florida Atlantic.More: Army football's Jeff Monken feels good headed into 13th seasonIn all, 80 players made the Watch List. Schools in the Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference have 17 candidates apiece, the Big 12 has 15 and the Big Ten 14. The list will be paired to semifinalists in early November and finalists later that month. The 90th Maxwell Award winner will be named in December in Atlanta.The Maxell goes to the best all-around college football player, judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters and NCAA head coaches, plus members of the Maxwell Football Club.Hellums led all Football Subdivision quarterbacks in 2025 with 1,223 rushing yards, becoming the eighth Army rusher to reach that mark. His 18 rushing touchdowns ranks No. 2 in Army history.Army opens preseason practice on Wednesday, August 5. The season opener is September 5 against Bryant at the refurbished Michie Stadium.Three Army greats won the Maxwell: Glenn Davis in 1944, Doc Blanchard in 1945 and Pete Dawkins in 1958. Coincidentally, the same trio claimed the Heisman Trophy those same seasons.Notable NFL stars who won the Maxwell include O.J. Simpson, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Derrick Henry.Recent winners are Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (2025), Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2024), Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (2023), USC quarterback Caleb Williams (2022) and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (2021).kmcmillan@th-record.comX / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHRThis article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army football QB Cale Hellums named to Maxwell Award watch list