Player Notes

East Lansing — Noah Kim hasn’t wavered since the 2022 season ended.It was a difficult one for the Spartans, particularly the offense. And as Michigan State headed into an uncertain offseason after winning just five games, coach Mel Tucker declared an open competition for every position on the field, including quarterback.Michigan State quarterback Noah Kim appeared in four games last season, going ...

EAST LANSING — Once again, No. 10 took the first reps at quarterback on the first portion of Michigan State football’s first preseason practice.Only that jersey contained Noah Kim, not Payton Thorne.The Spartans began the post-Thorne era Thursday, the competition for the QB job remaining open following the two-year starter’s surprising transfer to Auburn in April.Almost all media eyes during the open ...

By Aaron McMannThe ongoing pursuit of a second starting cornerback could mean a change of duties for one of Michigan’s leaders on defense.Speaking last week at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, head coach Jim Harbaugh named defensive backs Will Johnson and Mike Sainristil definitive starters this fall, but left open their roles in the Wolverines’ defensive backfield.Johnson is a shoe-in at corner, ...

CORAL GABLES — When Leonard Taylor III visits the offices of his agency, First Round Management, he leaves with a smorgasbord.The third-year Hurricanes defensive lineman hired a private chef to prepare meals for him, and he’s quickly reaping the benefits.“I feel stronger,” Taylor said. “It got me bigger.”Taylor said he has three or four daily meals prepared for him. Previously, he said he would eat ...

Jaire Alexander has what Louisville cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis calls a “certain spotlight” to him.Dating back to his days at Louisville, Alexander, now a star with the Green Bay Packers, has never been short of personality and playmaking ability.That translated to the NFL. He’s now the highest-paid cornerback in the league after a 2022 season that included 56 tackles and five interceptions, tied ...

Kentucky football’s quest to build depth at offensive tackle has been dealt another blow as practice for the 2023 season begins.Redshirt freshman Nik Hall, who had been viewed as a candidate to take a step forward in his second season on campus, is unlikely to play this season due to injury, UK Coach Mark Stoops said at the team’s Media Day Friday. Stoops acknowledged the injury might end Hall’s career, ...

All it took was one text message.At the time, it didn’t appear to be a ground-breaking communication between James Madison linebackers coach Bryant Haines and James Carpenter, who was set to enroll in Harrisonburg as a typical student for the ensuing fall.But that simple message in February of 2019 helped carve a path for Carpenter, who didn’t have a Division I offer out of Roanoke Catholic High School ...

JACKSONVILLE — After a pair of impressive seasons to start out his Jacksonville State tenure, tight end Sean Brown garnered some national recognition on Friday.The award committee announced that Brown is one of 48 tight ends named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list.The award, which has been given since 2000, is awarded to the most outstanding tight end in college football.Brown, who was ...

AMES — Iowa State football hosted its annual media day on Friday, but several of the questions revolved around off-field issues related to the Cyclones.Media day took place the same week it was made public that seven current or former Iowa State and Iowa athletes — including Hunter Dekkers — were charged in a gambling probe. Dekkers, who took over starting quarterback duties for the 2022 season after ...

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The same three words entered my mind both before I walked into an interview and before I started writing this story.First, an exhale. Then, “Here we go.”There isn’t a person who unites Iowa Hawkeyes fans with disdain more than offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. The 2022 statistics bring that at times unhealthy indignation to the forefront. Let’s get those out of the way first. Iowa ...