UCLA, Pitt's Sun Bowl Finish Thrills Twitter After Dorian Thompson-Robinson's Injury
Dec 30, 2022
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of the UCLA Bruins scrambles with the ball against the California Golden Bears during the second quarter of an NCAA football game at California Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2022 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Friday's Sun Bowl between the No. 18 UCLA Bruins and Pittsburgh Panthers left social media buzzing, as Pitt overcame a late deficit and hit a game-winning field goal with just four seconds remaining, giving the Panthers a 37-35 victory in El Paso, Texas.
UCLA led by as much as 14 in the second half, but Pittsburgh scored 20 unanswered points to take a six-point lead into the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
The Bruins seemed like they were out of it after senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson exited the final collegiate game of his career in the fourth quarter with an apparent back injury, but backup Ethan Garbers led a touchdown drive that put UCLA back up 35-34 with 34 seconds remaining:
Pitt quarterback Nick Patti came through in the clutch, though, completing 18- and 17-yard passes to Jared Wayne and Bub Means, respectively, before scrambling for 11 yards to set up kicker Ben Sauls' fifth successful field goal of the game:
The No. 18 Bruins were in search of their first 10-win season since 2014 and seemed to be well on their way to getting there, but their offense largely stalled in the second half.
It was a tale of two halves for DTR, who put up big numbers and had UCLA ahead 21-14 at the break before a second-half collapse.
While Thompson-Robinson did throw three interceptions, he also tossed two touchdowns and rushed for another.
The senior signal-caller was on pace for over 500 passing yards, but he couldn't get anything going in the second half and went just 1-of-5 for seven yards with no touchdowns and one pick after the break.
UCLA extended its lead to 28-14 in the third quarter on a pick-six, but Pitt tied it up with two touchdowns, including one off Thompson-Robinson's third interception. DTR did not return after that pick, and while no official injury was announced, it was noted on the broadcast that he appeared to be getting his back worked on.
Even without Thompson-Robinson, the Bruins were in position to win the game, but their defense simply couldn't hold up.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly will undoubtedly be second-guessed over some of the decisions he made in the loss, and the focus will now shift toward who will be under center for the Bruins next season following the departure of DTR.
Clark Phillips III NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Utah CB
Dec 30, 2022
Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III (1) watches the play develop during an NCAA football game against Florida on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Utah 29-26. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
HEIGHT: 5'9"
WEIGHT: 184
HAND: 9 1/8"
ARM: 29 1/8"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 4.51
3-CONE: TBD
SHUTTLE: 4.32
VERTICAL: 33"
BROAD: TBD
POSITIVES
โ Fluid player with loose hips. Shows very good twitch to get out of breaks and drive on receivers. Has the speed and movement skills to run with receivers downfield.
โ Shows good instinct in both the run and pass game. Very good vision in zone. Sees the threats in his area and reacts with anticipation.
โ Outstanding hands when playing the ball. Shows good tracking of the ball and attacks it with his hands away from his body.
โ Can be an elusive and feisty player when taking on blocks.
NEGATIVES
โ Lack of size can show up at times. Bigger blockers can latch on and cause a struggle for him to disengage.
โ Speed in his backpedal can make him rock back on his heels, causing him to reach and grab.
โ Ankle-biter at times when attacking bigger backs.
2022 STATISTICS
โ 12 GM, 24 TOT, 2 TFL, 1 SK, 6 INT, 12 PBU
NOTES
โ Started 31 games in his career
โ Three-year starter
โ 2022 Unanimous All-American
โ 2021 Second-team All-Pac 12
โ Fourth in Utah history in career interception return yards
OVERALL
Clark Phillips III is an active, slightly undersized cornerback position with excellent movement skills. He has shown the ability to play in both man and zone coverage.
When playing man, he can play from press and off coverage. When playing press, he does a good job of mirroring the receiver, allowing him to declare their routes and quickly getting into his hip pocket. From off coverage, Phillips shows good tempo and leverage, showing off his foot quickness and twitch to get out of breaks and drive on the ball.
One of his most impressive attributes is his anticipation and ability to run the routes for receivers. Once out of his backpedal, he does a great job of becoming the receiver and attacking the ball, finishing the play with great hands and ball skills.
In zone, he displays similar traits while using his vision to sink under routes coming in and out of his area. Phillips does a good job carrying routes downfield, although occasionally, he can panic and grab or bump the receiver before the ball arrives.
When playing the run, Clark is an active player who isn't afraid to get into the mix. He does a good job of quickly reacting and setting the edge, often using his quickness to beat receivers, although there are times when he can get stuck on bigger receivers and have difficulty disengaging. He is also fearless when tackling but at times chooses to throw his body at the ball-carrier's feet in an attempt to tackle.
Overall, Clark is an outstanding cover corner who shows versatility at both the outside corner and slot positions. His ball-hawking tendencies make him an elite player and one that will be coveted at the next level. His size may be a question to play out wide, but his movement skills are more than capable of playing from the slot. He can be a Day 1 or early Day 2 selection.
Travis Hunter to Transfer to Colorado After Deion Sanders Hire; Former No. 1 Recruit
Dec 22, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 17: Travis Hunter #12 of the Jackson State Tigers reacts after pulling in a touchdown reception against the North Carolina Central Eagles during the second half of the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Jackson State cornerback Travis Hunter is following Deion Sanders to Colorado, he announced Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.
It didn't take long for the former No. 1 recruit to make a decision on his next destination as he revealed just two days ago that he would be entering the transfer portal.
Hunter said in a YouTube video posted to his channel, per Sam Cooper of Yahoo Sports:
"I committed to Coach Prime at Jackson State when he was there and I want to honor my commitment and stay with him. I felt like I learned a lot with him at Jackson State so I'm going to stick with him so I can continue to grind, continue to show love, continue to put the work in so I can get to the next level."
Colorado announced the arrival of Sanders as its next head coach earlier this month, and the Pro Football Hall of Famer indicated that he planned to bring other top-tier talent with him to revive a Buffaloes squad that finished 1-11 this season.
Hunter joins quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion Sanders, as the latest former Jackson State Tiger to commit to Colorado. Shedeur Sanders also made his transfer decision official on Wednesday.
Hunter, who was listed as the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class, initially committed to Florida State as a high school prospect before flipping his commitment to Jackson State.
As a true freshman in 2022, the 19-year-old proved to be impactful on both sides of the ball. He posted two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and one fumble recovery while playing as a defensive back. The 6'1" star also caught 18 passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver.
It's reasonable to believe Hunter will play a similar role under Sanders in Colorado given his speed and talent.
Before committing to Colorado, Hunter was also considering Georgia, per 247Sports recruiting analyst Rusty Mansell. He added Miami and USC were looking to get in the mix for the speedster.
5-Star EDGE Prospect Matayo Uiagalelei Commits to Oregon over Ohio State and USC
Dec 21, 2022
The next Uiagalelei knows where he will play college football.
Matayo Uiagalelei, who is the younger brother of former Clemson and current transfer portal quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, announced he will join the Oregon Ducks as part of their 2023 recruiting class on Wednesday.
The news came after another 5-star recruit, safety Peyton Bowen, also announced his commitment to Oregon.
Uiagalelei, who checks in at 6'5" and 265 pounds, is a 5-star prospect, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He is also the No. 31 overall player, No. 5 edge rusher and No. 4 player from the state of California in his class.
He was recruited by the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Clemson and Texas, which is a who's who list of some of the best programs in all of college football. In December, he trimmed his list to the Buckeyes, USC and Oregon.
It is no surprise the Tigers initially drew interest given his family's connections, but the fact the other annual College Football Playoff contenders were also in on his recruitment hints at his potential.
Uiagalelei played tight end and defensive end at the high-school level, even though he projects to play on the defensive side in college.
The athleticism that helps him run routes as a pass-catcher also allows him to blow past offensive tackles off the edge on defense. Throw in the strength to bulldoze his way through blockers and throw off the rushing attack or passing game, and it is easy to envision him as a defensive game-changer for the Ducks.
He stood out at multiple camps featuring some of the best prospects in the country while showing off that combination of physicality and explosiveness.
Uiagalelei figures to only get better as he enters a college program and adds even more strength while honing his game.
If he does, he can become one of the country's most dominant defensive playmakers early in his career for Oregon.
The Ducks looked like possible Pac-12 title contenders at times during head coach Dan Lanning's first year in 2022, but the defense proved to be a problem at times. It allowed 49 points to Georgia, 37 points to Washington and 38 points to Oregon State in its three regular-season losses, which prevented it from competing for a conference crown.
Consistently landing defensive playmakers like Uiagalelei is the best way to avoid such performances in the future.
Deion Sanders Responds to Critics of Colorado Move: 'I Understand Because It's Love'
Dec 21, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Jackson State Tigers looks on against the North Carolina Central Eagles during the first half of the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Deion Sanders has faced some backlash after leaving Jackson State this winter to take on the job as the Colorado head football coach.
On Tuesday, Sanders said he understood the criticism and where it was coming from.
"I understand because it's love," Sanders told Shannon Sharpe of the Club Shay Shay podcast (3:40 mark). "You fell in love, and I fell in love too. And I felt like we did more than we were expected to do. We just did it so expeditiously that it overwhelmed you and you thought it was easy. Because what would normally take someone several years, we did it in two-and-a-half. That's what was staggering."
Sanders said that when he was hired in Sept. 2020, vice president and director of athletics Ashley Robinson asked Sanders to give him two years. Sanders ultimately spent three seasons at the school, going 27โ6 at the school and leading them to back-to-back bowl games.
One of the criticisms Sanders addressed in the interview was why he felt as though he couldn't build up Jackson State into a national powerhouse on par with the Power Five schools.
"Tell me how you build that into a Power Five," Sanders said (10:58 mark). "Because if you go into the Power Five conference, just say the SEC, you know all the other sports have to go too. ... And also, it's criteria that the school has to pass to be in those conferences. And I don't know if that was going to be applicable to what we're trying to accomplish."
At Colorado, he'll be looking to rebuild a program that has had just six winning seasons since the turn of the century. And Sanders said he understood why some of the parting shots from some Jackson State fans weren't kind.
"People are hurt, and when people are hurt, often times their first response isn't the response that should be given," Sanders said. "They say things out of emotion and anger, but I listen. Because when a person says stuff out of emotions and anger, that's how they really feel."
Colorado Merchandise Sales Up 700% After Hiring Deion Sanders as Head Coach
Dec 20, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Jackson State Tigers walks the field during pregame warmups prior to the Cricket Celebration Bowl against the North Carolina Central Eagles at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
The brief Deion Sanders era has already been profitable for his new school.
According to Doug Greenberg of Front Office Sports, "sales of officially licensed Colorado products are up 700 percent year-over-year since Sanders was first hired on Dec. 3."
In particular, Colorado has been selling T-shirts and sweatshirts with "Coach Prime" written on the front and a copy of Sanders' signature on the back.
Sanders, who led Jackson State to a 27-6 record across his three seasons and two bowl appearances, will be tasked with transforming a football program that has only had one winning season since 2005.
The jury's out on whether Sanders can work his magic for the Buffaloes. But it's very clear that there is major excitement about his hire.
The USC Trojans have had a fantastic season in 2022, even though they fell short of making the College Football Playoff. After a dismal 4-8 campaign in 2021,...
Dorian Singer Transfers to Join Caleb Williams, USC; Pac-12's Leading WR Last Year
Dec 19, 2022
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 17: Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Dorian Singer #5 during a college football game between the North Dakota State Bison and the University of Arizona Wildcats on September 17, 2022 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
USC has made a significant addition to its offense for 2023 by securing a commitment from former Arizona star Dorian Singer.
Singer announced Monday he's transferring to the Trojans:
Singer caught 66 passes for a Pac-12-high 1,105 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games with the Wildcats in 2022. USC might have been sold when he torched its secondary for 141 receiving yards and three touchdowns in a 45-37 win for the Trojans on Oct. 29.
The sophomore is the third Arizona player to transfer to USC, with cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace and defensive lineman Kyon Barrs already making the move.
Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley didn't waste any time when it came to the transfer portal after he first took the job. He added 20 players, a group headlined by Caleb Williams, Jordan Addison, Mario Williams, Eric Gentry and Travis Dye.
The strategy delivered results. USC finished the regular season at 11-2 and was one win away from making the College Football Playoff, while Caleb Williams was crowned the Heisman Trophy winner.
By targeting Singer, Riley is hoping the offense doesn't miss a beat following the departure of Addison. While Addison failed to match the pace that helped him win the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2021, he led USC in the three major receiving categories (59 receptions, 875 yards and eight touchdowns).
Singer, meanwhile, will get to contend for a CFP semifinal berth while starring in an offense that will be among the most closely followed in the country.
Oregon QB Bo Nix to Forgo 2023 NFL Draft, Return to Ducks for Final Season
Dec 19, 2022
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Bo Nix #10 of the Oregon Ducks makes a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Utah Utes at Autzen Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
Oregon senior quarterback Bo Nix could have turned pro this year, but it appears that he has some unfinished business.
Nix announced on Instagram that he will be returning to the Ducks for the 2023 season rather than entering the NFL draft.
Nix is preparing to lead the Ducks against North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28. He told reporters after practice this past Friday that he was undecided on whether he will utilize his final year of eligibility.
A transfer from Auburn, Nix played three seasons for the Tigers before joining Oregon for the 2022 season. He enjoyed his most productive year with the Ducks, throwing for 3,389 yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 71.5 percent of his passes. He also added 504 rushing yards and 14 more scores on the ground, as well as a touchdown reception.
Nix helped lead the Ducks to a 9-3 record and a third-place finish in the Pac-12. However, the team went 1-2 in its final three games of the regular season, including a loss to Oregon State during rivalry week.
In the Holiday Bowl, Nix and the Ducks will be facing a North Carolina team that went 9-4 this year. While the Tar Heels have a talented offense, their defense has struggled to stop the ball and is allowing 438.2 yards per game.
Nix will look to put on a show in his final outing of the year, as it will be an opportunity for the Ducks to make a statement for 2023.
