Like NFL scouts who have evaluated Shedeur Sanders, academics have studied the controversy around him.

Where it starts: the son of Deion Sanders and quarterback from Colorado is the most polarizing player in the draft that starts Thursday, triggering vastly different opinions.

He’s a bust!

He’s NFL-ready!

He’s arrogant!

He’s a gentleman!

Back and forth they go, the critics and supporters, creating a cacophony and opportunity for academics to address race, fame, wealth and other issues stoking emotion among fans and analysts voicing opinions about Sanders.

Whether his arm is strong enough, his feet are quick enough, his grasp of defensive formations firm enough, those issues have been debated and will be dissected more. What’s left is to better understand why people react strongly to Sanders and what it says about us.

Breaking the quarterback mold

Cheryl Cooky is a professor at Purdue University who studies the intersections of gender, sports, culture, and the media. When talking about Shedeur Sanders, she brought up NFL history.

She pointed out that 2023 was the first time the Super Bowl featured two Black starting quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.

‘I mean, we’re 100-plus years in the history of this league,’ she said. ‘I think that’s important context for understanding what’s happening in dynamics playing out.’

Breaking from the mostly conservative mold of quarterback, Sanders has flashed his luxury watch during games. He’s also sported diamond necklaces. It’s similar to his father, Deion, one of the most flamboyant and outspoken players in NFL history.

Of Shedeur Sanders’ style, Cooky said, “For a Black quarterback to be acting in ways that sort of violate norms and expectations gets policed even more so than I think if this was a Black player in another position or a white quarterback, for example.’

She also brought up ESPN’s Ryan Clark, who faced backlash after he said race was behind NFL evaluators anonymously criticizing Sanders for such things as being ‘arrogant’ and ‘brash.’

Said Cooky: ‘Ryan Clark making these comments five years ago, it’d be interesting to see what the response would’ve been at that particular moment when the political landscape was slightly different than what it is today.’

Comparisons to Arch Manning

Todd Boyd, the ‘Notorious Ph.D.’ at Southern California, is an expert in sports media and American pop culture. In considering the treatment of Sanders, he contemplated a future situation.

‘It’ll be interesting to watch how Arch Manning is covered,’ he said.

Manning, unlike Sanders, does not have a famous father. But he has two famous uncles (Peyton and Eli) and a legendary grandfather (Archie). They comprise the ‘First Family of Football” and may help better understand the dynamic around Shedeur.

Arch Manning, who is expected to start this season, spent the last two years primarily on the bench. Yet, Boyd noted, Arch Manning has gotten ample favorable attention.

‘The reason he’s getting that kind of attention is because of his last name, and I’ve not found anybody who’s had a problem with that,’ he said.

Being the son of Deion Sanders has not always translated into favorable attention.

‘Deion moves through the world too easily for some people’s liking,’ Boyd said.

Also, Boyd noted that for many years the narrative for Black athletes was they were underprivileged and success in athletics was their singular way out.

‘We have a generation of Black athletes now who don’t fit that stereotype, and Shedeur certainly doesn’t fit that,’ Boyd said. ‘I think some people might be slow to recognize this change, and there may be others who are potentially put off by it.’

Shades of Angel Reese

Angela Hattery, co-director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender Based Violence at the University of Delaware, has written extensively about sports.

Hattery, in thinking about Sanders, said she’s reminded of Angel Reese entering 2024 WNBA Draft along with her rival, Caitlin Clark.

‘There were a lot of haters of Angel Reese and everybody loved Caitlin Clark and they’re both really great players,’ Hattery said. ‘But Angel didn’t want to play the good girl. She cultivated a very different image.’

Similarly, Sanders has not conformed to the image of a traditional quarterback.

‘Black men have to fit in a much smaller box,’ Hattery said. ‘There’s just a lot of evidence for that, that we still require Black men to behave certain ways. And we prefer as a society that they behave in ways that are more normative white.

“We’re more comfortable with (President Barack) Obama, for example, than we are with Black men who are more audacious or more flashy…’

‘Some racist tendencies’

Jay Coakley, the author of ‘Sports In Society: Issues and Controversies,’ cited President Donald Trump as a factor in some of the controversial views of Sanders. In particular, Trump setting a policy captured by this quote: “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government.” 

“Trump has raised this issue where if you’re not a white man and you’re getting publicity, it’s somehow unjustified,’’ Coakley said.

As a result, Coakley suggested, it’s understandable how Sanders has become controversial to some people.

“If there’s a fan who’s got some racist tendencies, they’re going to make that connection and they’re going to say, ‘This is a typical flashy Black athlete, and I just don’t go for them,” Coakley said. ‘And so race comes in that way. But I seriously doubt that somebody’s going to talk about race in a very explicit way for fear that they’re going to be attacked.

‘Now, as a sociologist, I know there is that kind of a connection.’

This coming weekend, 257 players will be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hundreds of college players will see their careers continue on in the highest level of the sport. Many more also will sign after the draft as undrafted free agents.

This year’s draft class is marked by just a couple of blue-chip players: Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Beyond that, there aren’t many top-tier prospects but a substantial number of starting-caliber players. The quality of players on Day 2 will likely be the best in recent draft history.

Defensive line is the top position in the class, both on the interior and at edge rusher. More than a quarter of the top 100 picks could be from those positions alone. This year’s running back group is the best of the last decade with a top talent in Ashton Jeanty and dozens of draft-worthy prospects

Tight end and guard should be deep positions in the class as well.

It might be hard to get a good picture of the prospect hierarchy in the 2025 NFL draft. That’s where we come in with our latest big board rankings. This time around includes 200 total players with scouting briefs for the top half of the board:

NFL draft big board: Top 200 players

Position key notes:

Hybrid position players Travis Hunter and Jalon Walker did not receive a position rank.
OL = may play guard or offensive tackle in the NFL.
IOL = may play guard or center in the NFL.

1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

A true unicorn in modern NFL draft history. Legitimate No. 1 corner and wide receiver prospect with length, athleticism, playmaking, and football IQ to be a difference-maker at either position sooner than later. Will likely start out on defense due to adjustment needed at wide receiver for the NFL game.

2. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Position rank: 1

Carter has elite traits as a former off-ball linebacker still learning the position. He’s a long, explosive athlete who could become a double-digit sack threat within his rookie contract. A creative defensive coordinator will love deploying him in multiple ways.

3. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Position rank: 1

Generational contact balance is Jeanty’s calling card. He’s a true bell-cow running back who churns out yards and wears down defenses with his vision, patience and low center of gravity. He started his football career as a wide receiver and can showcase that more in the NFL.

4. Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Position rank: 1

Campbell’s arms and wingspan are shorter than desired, but he is a rare athlete at the position with the footwork, heavy hands, attitude and play strength to potentially stick at tackle in the NFL. High character player who commanded respect in the locker room.

5. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Position rank: 1

Graham’s low leverage and wrestling background make him a nightmare in the middle against the run. He weighed in lighter and measured in with short arms at the combine, which could limit his ceiling in the NFL, but there’s too much outstanding film for him to fall very far in this class.

6. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Position rank: 1

Starks’ versatility, football IQ and commitment against the run make him a top talent, regardless of position. He didn’t test well at the combine, but his flashes for one of the best defenses in the country are undeniable.

7. Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

Position rank: 2

Membou’s a rare athlete in the same caliber as Tristan Wirfs, based on his combine numbers. He has the elite tools teams look for and the attitude to finish blocks, but needs some refinement with his hand usage. There will be some concerns that he only lined up on the right side in college.

8. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Position rank: 1

Johnson’s 2023 tape was outstanding and he projects as an ideal outside cornerback in the NFL with a mix of athleticism, ball skills and technique. He dropped off in 2024 and suffered a season-ending injury that might have teams concerned about when to take him.

9. Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

Position rank: 2

Williams played hurt in 2024, but had outstanding flashes, especially against Texas. His comically long arms, big frame and power will endear him to evaluators, but he needs to refine his technique.

10. Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

Position rank: 3

Stewart is a rare athlete for the position with a long, explosive frame that lit up the NFL combine, but the college production wasn’t there. He often got pressures but had just 4.5 sacks in his college career. NFL teams draft on traits, though, and he has a lot to like.

11. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Position rank: 2

Barron was a versatile piece on the Longhorns’ defense who lined up all over the secondary. His ball skills, attitude, and football IQ are among the best in the class. He tested much better than expected at the combine. Teams might look past him due to his smaller frame (5-foot-11) and shorter arms, which could keep him at nickel-only in the NFL.

12. Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia

Walker legitimately could line up as an edge rusher or off-ball linebacker in the NFL with his elite athleticism, burst and long frame. It’ll be up to an NFL team to judge how best to use him.

13. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Position rank: 1

Warren won the John Mackey Award in 2024 for good reason as Penn State used him all over the formation. He’s a playmaker with surprising athleticism for his 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame with the demeanor to block in the run game, as well.

14. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Position rank: 1

McMillan isn’t a deep threat, but wins with his outstanding catch radius at 6-foot-4, route running and body control. He’s a fluid athlete who compares well to Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London.

15. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Position rank: 3

Banks is a very good pass blocker already with his feet and hand usage. He boasts a big frame at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds with long arms. He could end up at guard if teams are concerned about his balance and ability to deal with power rushers.

16. Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Position rank: 1

Ward’s electric playmaking gives him a high ceiling in the NFL, but he’ll need to iron out his risk-taking. His arm is one of the strongest in the class and he consistently improved at each stop in college.

17. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Position rank: 2

Loveland’s mix of size (6-foot-6, 248 pounds) and athleticism fit better in the NFL than in college. He’s an experienced route runner who can create mismatches against defenses. He likely won’t be a plus blocker one-on-one in the run game but has the floor to contribute in that way.

18. Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Position rank: 2

Golden’s combine performance has him in a new tier among the wide receiver class. He’s an ideal No. 2 wideout in an offense thanks to his speed, route running, verticality and ball tracking on deep passes.

19. Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

Position rank: 4

Green put up ridiculous numbers at Marshall with his fluid athleticism, pass-rush moves, awareness and bend. He’s less effective against the run, but his violent playing style affects the play even if he doesn’t finish it. He might fall due to off-field concerns.

20. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Position rank: 4

Simmons would’ve been a top-10 pick if not for a knee injury in 2024. Prior to that, he had exceptionally clean tape in the Big Ten. His body control and footwork at an athletic 6-foot-5 give him the tools to be a long-term starter in the NFL.

21. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Position rank: 3

Egbuka is yet another impressive slot receiver prospect from Columbus. His crisp route running, after-catch potential and reliable hands are reminiscent of fellow Buckeye Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

22. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Position rank: 2

Nolen’s size (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) and burst off the ball make him a tough matchup one-on-one. He needs to refine his technique to maximize his tools, but he’s got plenty of upside.

23. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Position rank: 4

Burden projects as a playmaking slot receiver with the burst to get chunk yards after catch. He’s built like a running back with reliable hands, but lacks experience on the outside. A creative offensive play-caller will enjoy getting him the ball in space and he has immediate potential as a returner.

24. James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee

Position rank: 5

Pearce was one of the most productive edge rushers in the SEC behind his ridiculous burst, length and athleticism. His lean frame might struggle against the run setting the edge but the effort to chase down runners is there. Character questions might drop him down the board.

25. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Position rank: 2

Emmanwori is built like a linebacker, but is one of the best athletes in the class. He’s excellent in zone coverage with good ball skills and is a reliable tackler against the run. He’ll need to reel in some of his physicality in the NFL to avoid penalties, but brings experience all over the formation.

26. Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Position rank: 3

Revel had his final year cut short but offers a rare mix of elite speed and a long frame. Despite his leaner frame, Revel dishes out hard hits in run defense. He’ll need to rein in his grabby tendencies in coverage at the NFL level.

27. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Position rank: 1

Campbell is an ideal modern linebacker with a mix of size (6-foot-3, 233 pounds), speed and explosiveness. He played off-ball at Alabama, but teams might use him more at edge in the NFL. In either case, he’s a thumping hitter in run defense with coverage skills. There are concerns about a shoulder injury that could drop him down the order.

28. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Position rank: 2

Sanders has the highest floor of any passer in the class thanks to his accuracy, timing, poise and toughness. His physical traits are average and will limit his ceiling in the NFL, but he could be a Day 1 starter and provide a great baseline for an offense needing quarterback stability.

29. Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Position rank: 3

Harmon’s built big with a 6-foot-4 frame and nearly 35-inch long arms. That means he could realistically line up at multiple spots on the line in the NFL with the burst, strength and power to be a difference maker. But he can be tight moving side-to-side and his pad level is high at times.

30. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

Position rank: 6

Ezeirauku is the most NFL-ready pass rusher in a deep edge class. He’s slightly undersized at 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds, but his long arms and bend give him an advantage. He’ll be a contributor immediately who doesn’t rely solely on physical gifts to win off the edge.

31. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Position rank: 2

Hampton is next-best in a deep running back class thanks to his mix of size, speed, explosiveness, footwork and vision. He’s a proven receiver out of the backfield as well. He took on a lot of contact in college and he will likely have to change that attitude to last in the NFL.

32. Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M

Position rank: 7

Scourton’s not as athletic as teammate Shemar Stewart, but he was far more productive thanks to his high motor and variety of NFL-ready pass rush moves. He won’t overpower blockers but will set the edge and hustle hard in against the run.

33. Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State

Position rank: 1

Jackson was a career guard at Ohio State before Josh Simmons’ injury forced him out to tackle. He was more than capable at it as the Buckeyes won a national title. His movement skills and length at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds means he could potentially make it at tackle in the NFL. If not, he’d likely be the top guard in the class.

34. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Position rank: 4

Mason Graham gets the headlines but Grant is an impressive athlete given his long, 331-pound frame. He has the tools to be a pass rusher, but didn’t put it together in college. If he can improve his consistency and develop better pass-rush technique, he could be a plus starter sooner than later.

35. Josh Conerly Jr., OL, Oregon

Position rank: 2

Conerly’s measurables at the combine (6-foot-5, 311 pounds) and 2023 tape show he could stay at tackle in the NFL. His 2024 tape wasn’t as good, but he still is one of the more athletic players at the position. He might end up at guard with the experience to kick out to tackle in a pinch.

36. Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

Position rank: 4

Thomas is all about tools with a 6-foot-2, 197-pound frame and very long arms. He excels in press coverage with his imposing size and physicality with fluid movement skills. His ball skills were lacking slightly compared to the rest of the class and he’ll need to improve his body control and discipline in coverage.

37. Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Position rank: 5

Williams is built to play the run well already at 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds with violent hands and good feet. He’s an explosive athlete with pass-rush upside but he’s yet to fully unlock that. He needs to improve his consistency and hand usage in pass-rush scenarios to maximize his power and burst.

38. Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State

Position rank: 1

Zabel played tackle in college, but projects best inside at either guard or center. He’s a mauler off the line with great reaction against defenders thanks to his mobility, even when engaged in blocks. He’s built a bit leaner at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds but his impressive athleticism should be an asset on the interior.

39. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Position rank: 3

Judkins’ explosiveness was on full display at the combine after showing up in his 2024 tape. He forces missed tackles with his burst and strong frame and he’s a proven receiver out of the backfield. His lack of top speed might drop him down some boards as he isn’t likely a home-run hitter in the NFL.

40. Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona

Position rank: 3

Savaiinaea’s strong showing at the combine and arm length in a 6-foot-4, 324-pound frame lend credence that he could potentially line up at tackle in the NFL given his experience in college and heavy anchor. His foot speed might ultimately hold him back, though, and make him a career guard. Still, his size and burst should be a major asset, especially in the run game.

41. Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Position rank: 4

Hairston’s blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine bodes well for him in the NFL considering his smaller stature at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds. His ball skills (six INTs, 10 passes defensed in two years) are impressive and he can fit in man or zone schemes. He might get bullied by bigger receivers at times, though.

42. TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

Position rank: 4

Henderson’s speed on the outside makes him a burner, but there are concerns about his durability after injuries in 2022 and 2023 as the lead back at Ohio State. He’s a capable pass-catcher with an impressive zero fumbles in his college career, as well.

43. Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

Position rank: 6

Amos is a long cornerback with the size (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) and foot speed to excel in press as well as zone coverage. His length comes up big on contested catches and his reaction is ideal for his size. He’s lacking as a tackler and can be aggressive sometimes in coverage, which could result in more flags at the NFL level.

44. Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

Position rank: 5

Higgins is a big-bodied receiver with an excellent mix of speed and jump-ball ability in his long frame. He ran a limited route tree at Iowa State, but can create mismatches by using his imposing frame, body control and natural hands. He’s not a burner and not a proven creator after the catch.

45. Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo

Position rank: 6

Alexander’s performances at the Senior Bowl and combine have improved his NFL outlook. He’s a loose mover at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds with some of the longest arms in the class. His twitchy athleticism and length means he can move around the line depending on the scheme. If he can improve his consistency and pad level, he could be one of the better DTs in a loaded class.

46. Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota

Position rank: 4

Ersery’s big frame (6-foot-6, 331 pounds) boasts power and quickness to stick in the NFL. His movement skills laterally bode well for tackle at the NFL considering his shorter arms, but he needs to improve his balance, hand placement and timing to stick at tackle. If not, he’ll be a mountain of a guard.

47. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Position rank: 7

Morrison had his 2024 season cut short with a hip injury, but offers ideal size, good technique in zone coverage and fantastic ball skills at outside corner. His linear speed is impressive, but doesn’t translate well in the open field. He needs to improve in man coverage and run support.

48. Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

Position rank: 3

Arroyo is an impressive athlete at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds but knee injuries affected two of his college seasons. His soft hands and awareness on routes will translate well to the NFL. He’s a threat after the catch but not a tackle-breaker due to his high-cut frame. Medicals might take him off the board for multiple teams.

49. Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas

Position rank: 8

Jackson’s combine performance pushed him to fringe first-round status after a remarkable showing in the jumps for his size (6-foot-6, 264 pounds). His high motor and unusual movement can create problems for blockers. His lack of bend will limit him at the NFL level, but he’ll make up for it as a starting-caliber player.

50. Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

Position rank: 3

Watts moved to safety for his last two years in college and thrived with 13 interceptions in that span. His background as a wide receiver helps his ball skills and route recognition. He’s a good athlete with good size at 6-foot and 204 pounds. His instincts and allergy to penalties make up for his lack of proven man-coverage ability and top-end speed.

51. Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA

Position rank: 2

Schwesinger cut his teeth as a special teams star before taking his speed and feel to a starting linebacker role in 2024. He finds the ball consistently (double-digit tackles in nine of 10 starts), hits hard and reaches full speed quickly. His inexperience as a starter might drop him down boards.

52. Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Position rank: 4

Son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor, Mason Taylor’s got great size (6-foot-4, 251 pounds) and very reliable hands. Fluid athlete with great body control. Limited as a blocker and needs to improve his breaks in the NFL.

53. Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Position rank: 5

Bruising, powerful one-cut runner who plays like a mix of Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray. Won’t make defenders miss in the open field, but uses his patience, vision, power and foot speed to make the most of his opportunities.

54. Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

Position rank: 6

Outstanding performance at the NFL combine showed his potential at the next level. He’s a smaller player (5-foot-10, 194 pounds), but pulls away from defenders with his speed. He’s a smooth route runner who can separate from defenders consistently. He’ll need to improve his drops and plan against press coverage.

55. Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State

Position rank: 4

A knee injury cut short his 2024 season, but he ran well at his pro day to ease concerns about that. He has ideal size at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds with length and great speed for run defense. His high-cut frame might hinder him in pass coverage and he needs to develop his play recognition, but the traits are there.

56. Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina

Position rank: 9

Great burst and twitch off the line with good size (6-foot-4, 262 pounds) and long arms. Led the SEC in sacks in 2024 with 11.5 and runs hot with explosive hands. He needs to improve setting the edge in run defense, but has the size to do that at the NFL level.

57. Cameron Williams, OT, Texas

Position rank: 5

Impressive size at 6-foot-6 and 334 pounds with an 85-inch wingspan and elite athleticism. Williams is a lot of projection at this point. His rare tools are worth developing to better his hand usage, anchor and discipline (18 penalties in 16 starts). In time, Williams could be one of the best tackles in this class.

58. Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama

Position rank: 2

Mountain of a guard at 6-foot-4 and 326 pounds and an 84¼-inch wingspan. That size means he can anchor in pass protection extremely well and dominate in run blocking. He lacks foot speed and speed in general, which could hurt him against NFL-level athletes and limit which offenses he would fit best in. But he’s a starting-caliber guard as a rookie and one of the better ones in the class.

59. Jordan Burch, Edge, Oregon

Position rank: 10

Size at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds to line up inside or on the edge in the NFL. Good length with burst out of the stance and ideal body control. He wins with power but has the athletic tools to do more with development. Needs to improve his block shedding and can be a versatile force with time.

60. Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Position rank: 8

Outlier length at 6-foot-3 with an 80-inch wingspan and elite speed (4.3-second 40-yard dash). Age will take him down the board for some teams but his background as a wide receiver gives him the ball production and upside as a starter. Started for just one season (2024) and put up three interceptions and five passes defensed.

61. T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

Position rank: 8

Ideal burst off the line and strength that keeps him off the ground in run defense. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds with an 80-inch wingspan, Sanders has surprising power that can get him off blocks in the run game. His tools provide good projections as a pass rusher, but they’ll need some development.

62. Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

Position rank: 9

Massive defensive tackle (6-foot-5, 332 pounds, 85-inch wingspan) with a game built on power. Collins can eat up blocks in the trenches in the run with his heavy hands. His tall frame can sometimes leave him vulnerable to double-teams but has the tools to make another leap after improving a lot in 2024. Improved hand usage could also unlock his potential in the NFL.

63. Wyatt Milum, IOL, West Virginia

Position rank: 3

Four-year starter at left tackle for West Virginia but projects best at guard due to his lack of length (32⅝-inch arms). Athletic with powerful hands and the right mix of competitiveness and experience in run blocking. Will need to improve as a pass protector, but has a high floor with lots of experience.

64. J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State

Position rank: 11

Very long, flexible player off the edge who faced a lot of double-teams in college. He lacks any elite calling cards besides his length, but has a high floor as a twitchy, high-motor, agile defender who excelled at batting passes. He needs some refinement to his technique, specifically coming out of his stance too high and timing his hands correctly.

65. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

Position rank: 3

Big linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds with solid speed (4.52-second 40-yard dash). Thundering hitter in run defense who will be a standout in that role immediately. That gives him a high floor, but he will need to improve in coverage to reach his ceiling. He’s shown flashes in coverage, though, with good tape prior to 2024.

66. Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss

Position rank: 12

Impressive length (82⅜-inch wingspan) for his size (6-foot-4, 241 pounds). Ideal acceleration, flexibility and body control, which he combines with good rush awareness to set himself up at the point of attack. Productive in 2024 with 10.5 sacks. Lacks the size to set the edge or take on blocks in the run game, but has the tools to be a designated pass rusher early on.

67. Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

Position rank: 3

Age might take him off the board for teams (he’ll turn 26 as a rookie), but Shough offers a mix of size (6-foot-5, 224 pounds) and impressive mobility (4.63-second 40-yard dash). His arm strength and mobility means he can fire passes off at multiple angles and access all levels of the field at will. Injuries are a concern but none were soft-tissue. He needs to take fewer risks as a passer, too, but offers lots of upside.

68. Tate Ratledge, IOL, Georgia

Position rank: 4

A taller guard prospect at 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds but uses his upper and lower body well to move defenders. His mix of power and control when blocking gives him a great foundation for run blocking in the NFL. As a pass protector, he anchors well, but needs to improve his hand usage to stick as a starter. He should contend for a starting role as a rookie.

69. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

Position rank: 9

Outlier size at 6-foot-7 and 328 pounds with 34-inch arms. Walker is mostly projection at this point but he has a tantalizing mix of size, speed, strength and footwork. His agility and balance are rare for a player his size. There’s simply few players built like him to ever enter the league and that’s worth developing. His ceiling is high, but his floor might be low given his inconsistency and unrefined technique.

70. Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Position rank: 7

Good mix of size (6-foot, 205 pounds), fluid athleticism and body control. He’s effective after the catch with short-area quickness and long speed to outrun defenders. He ran a lot of quick-game concepts at Utah State so he’ll need to expand his route tree at the NFL level. Could be a WR2 midway through his rookie contract.

71. Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Michigan

Position rank: 13

Short but compact build at 6-foot-1 and 249 pounds. Explosive off the edge and needs very little time to generate effective speed-to-power moves. Good hand usage for his development. His size might ultimately hold him back for some teams but he can be a high-energy rotational edge rusher at the very least as a rookie.

72. Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College

Position rank: 6

NFL bloodlines (his father played in the NFL) with a huge frame at 6-foot-8, 319 pounds and an 82-inch wingspan. Pass protection is his strong suit at this point with good awareness, hand placement and positioning. His smooth athleticism and footwork help him against longer edge rushers. He needs to improve in the run game, but can become a reliable starter early on in his rookie contract.

73. Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

Position rank: 4

Dart thrived in Ole Miss’ system that schemed open throws via play-action and RPO concepts. That likely will mean Dart needs time to get up to speed in an NFL offense, but has the tools to do so. He has an NFL arm, mobility and intangibles that teams will love. With a year or so to sit, Dart could be a long-term starter in the league.

74. Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

Position rank: 8

Outside receiver size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) with good body control, smooth footwork and releases. Productive in college (10 100-yard games in 20 starts). Lacks elite speed or burst and ran a very limited route tree at Ole Miss. Will need time to adjust to the NFL game.

75. Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

Position rank: 6

Sampson is slightly undersized at 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds but has great speed and productivity (1,491 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns in 2024). He boasts surprising physicality for his frame and is exremely competitive. He compares well to NFL starter Tony Pollard and should have a role in an NFL backfield for years.

76. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

Position rank: 4

Impressive speed that makes him a good fit in coverage and run defense. His compact build (6-foot, 232 pounds) serves him well as a tackler, but his smaller stature might take him off the board for some teams. To maximize his athleticism, Carter needs to improve his hand usage.

77. Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

Position rank: 5

Great ball skills and NFL size (6-foot-5, 241 pounds). Good athlete adept at attacking zone coverage. Committed run blocker. Lacks a separation gear after the catch and needs to improve strength for the next level.

78. Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

Position rank: 5

Mukuba’s lack of size (5-foot-11, 186 pounds) will show up more in the NFL than in college. But his length and speed means he can cover ground easily in the secondary. His ball production in 2024 (five interceptions, 11 passes defensed) and commitment to run defense despite his size will endear him to some teams.

79. Marcus Mbow, IOL, Purdue

Position rank: 5

Three-year starter at tackle, but his lighter frame (6-foot-4, 302 pounds) will kick him inside in the NFL. Fluid mover who wins more with hands than core strength. Great demeanor and burst off the line. He can stutter and lose his anchor in pass protection, further necessitating a move inside.

80. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

Position rank: 5

Milroe’s ridiculous athletic traits put him in contention for the best athlete in the class, regardless of position. His breakaway speed and arm strength are a rare combination that teams will covet at the NFL level, but Milroe needs to improve his mechanics to become a more consistent and accurate thrower. If a team is willing to sit and develop him, he could follow a Jalen Hurts-type trajectory and take over as a dual-threat starter in time.

81. Jack Bech, WR, TCU

Position rank: 9

Lacks explosion and long speed but is a very reliable receiver with great hands. Physical style of play with his thick build (6-foot-1, 214 pounds). Good route runner who can make contested catches. Will need to improve against press coverage to stick in the NFL.

82. Jared Ivey, Edge, Ole Miss

Position rank: 14

Great size for an NFL edge at 6-foot-5 and 274 pounds with an 82⅝-inch wingspan. His high floor as a run defender thanks to his length will give him a role early on in his career. His good-but-not-great athleticism and subpar burst will limit him as a pass rusher as he enters the league.

83. Ashton Gillotte, Edge, Louisville

Position rank: 15

Great speed and flexibility considering his dense frame (6-foot-2, 264 pounds). That frame translates to a physical playing style that uses power to overwhelm blockers with great leverage. His mix of physicality, high motor and consistency will make him an NFL player. His lack of length might ultimately limit him.

84. Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State

Position rank: 9

Compact build at 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds that he uses powerfully with his punch in run support and physicality in coverage. His lack of length might come up against bigger receivers but his smooth athleticism and competitiveness should keep him in contention. His ball production as a starter is impressive as well (five interceptions, 21 passes defensed in 24 starts).

85. Bradyn Swinson, Edge, LSU

Position rank: 16

Ideal mix of burst, length (81¼-inch wingspan), size (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) and flexibility to be a contributor sooner than later. His mix of pass-rush moves sets him up well early on. He lacks the mass and strength to set the edge in the run consistently but will have a role as a wide-alignment pass rusher.

86. Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

Position rank: 10

Tweener of a DT at 6-foot-3 and 294 pounds, but with good length and power. Turner is an explosive athlete off the line with experience at edge and inside. He gained a reputation for getting flags due to his competitive nature. He projects well with great twitch and powerful hands. If he can play more disciplined, he’ll be a starter in the NFL for a long time.

87. Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

Position rank: 11

Phillips’ light feet stand out amid his explosive burst and powerful hands. His inexperience and youth means he is more projection at this point but he has fantastic tools in a 6-foot-2, 313-pound frame. He will need development to reach his high ceiling, but the staff that does that will have an NFL starter on their hands.

88. Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

Position rank: 6

Natural, versatile receiver who was used all over the formation in college. Led the country in receptions and receiving yards in 2024. Proven receiver in busy areas of the field and a run-after-catch threat. But he did run a limited route tree at Bowling Green and will need a lot of work as a blocker.

89. Damien Martinez, RB, Miami

Position rank: 7

Martinez plays a bruising brand of football. More than 70% of his yards came after contact in 2024. His size at 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds means he will be a punishing back against defenses. He won’t win with breakaway speed but good luck to defenders trying to take him down. In a deep class with lots of speedsters, Martinez could be an early down back for an NFL team.

90. Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

Position rank: 7

Great athlete with impressive burst off the line at his size (6-foot-5, 247 pounds). Ideal wingspan and ball-tracking skills to be a downfield threat with contested-catch ability. Can break through contact after the catch, as well. His run-blocking skills are average at best, he’ll need to get stronger in the NFL.

91. Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech

Position rank: 8

Tuten showed off at the NFL combine with his ridiculous athletic traits. His mix of balance and explosion in a 5-foot-9, 204-pound frame gives him a great floor as a returner. He can break off long runs when given the space. He did have ball-security issues at Virginia Tech, which might cause concern for NFL teams. His high ceiling thanks to his traits are worth investing in.

92. Anthony Belton, OT, N.C. State

Position rank: 7

Massive frame at 6-foot-6, 336 pounds and an 84-inch wingspan. A road-grader in the running game, Belton uses his size and athleticism to bully defenders in various run schemes. He was a reliable starter for gap and zone schemes. He needs to improve his hand usage in pass protection, but has the potential to be a long-term starter.

93. Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

Position rank: 5

Knight started one season for the Gamecocks and plays through blocks with tenacity. He’s a standout run defender with great burst in the open field. He is limited in coverage at this point, but can cover underneath and in intermediate areas. At the very least, he’ll be an early down starter and special teams ace.

94. Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

Position rank: 12

Incredible twitch given his size at 6-foot-2 and 303 pounds. Great length with an 80½-inch wingspan to maximize his burst. Norman-Lott didn’t have a high volume of snaps in college but made the most of them when he was on the field. His fundamentals hand-wise help him use his quickness and power to win in one-on-one scenarios. He needs to improve as a run defender but has the tools to do so.

95. Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia

Position rank: 6

Natural athlete with solid size (6-foot, 205 pounds) and length (32½ inch arms). Reliable tackler with a good background on special teams and a nose for the ball in run defense. His discipline in zone coverage needs work and he might be limited overall in coverage by his tight transitions.

96. Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

Position rank: 9

Skattebo won’t break off many long runs, but churns out yards thanks to his quick running style and compact frame (5-foot-10, 216 pounds). He can take on hits and play through them to wear down defenses over the course of a game. He was a great receiving option out of the backfield as well and became the first player since Christian McCaffrey to surpass 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season. His fumbling issues and lack of speed might drop him down the board in a loaded class.

97. Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

Position rank: 10

Good separator with outstanding production (14 TDs in 2024) who can win downfield. Average size (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) but makes up for it with speed and after-catch abilities. His route running is lacking at this stage and will need development but in time he could become a solid No. 2/3 WR.

98. Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

Position rank: 1

Wilson started just one season in Athens but put together impressive film. Good size (6-foot-3, 311 pounds) and outstanding athleticism (1.71-second 10-yard split at the NFL combine) with football IQ to make it at the next level. His body control and play strength give him a good foundation to build upon with more development and experience.

99. Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

Position rank: 10

Neal was an outstanding producer for the Jayhawks as a four-year starter in the backfield. At 5-foot-11 and 219 pounds, he uses his patience, timing and vision to set up his blockers while using his balance to stay upright for extra yards. He won’t wow you with his long speed, but can handle a solid workload with his physical brand of running.

100. Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville

Position rank: 10

Ridiculous ball production even after moving up to ACC competition with eight interceptions and 34 passes defensed in his last three years. His athleticism at 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, in addition to that ball production, gives promise for his NFL future. Great burst out of his breaks and good transitions as well. He needs to improve his breaks and vision in zone coverage, though.

101. Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA

Position rank: 17

Transitioned from off-ball linebacker to edge in 2024 with good results. Great frame at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds with nearly 34-inch long arms. Can use speed-to-power, but lacks the refinement at this stage. He offers a lot of upside and needs time to evolve as a pass rusher. He’s shown potential as a run defender, though, with 13.5 tackles for loss in 2024.

102. Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M

Position rank: 7

103. Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas

Position rank: 11

104. Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska

Position rank: 13

105. Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon

Position rank: 6

106. Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Position rank: 11

107. Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State

Position rank: 7

108. Emery Jones Jr., IOL, LSU

Position rank: 6

109. Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon

Position rank: 14

110. Shemar James, LB, Florida

Position rank: 7

111. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

Position rank: 12

112. Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma

Position rank: 8

113. Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

Position rank: 13

114. Barryn Sorrell, Edge, Texas

Position rank: 18

115. Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia

Position rank: 8

116. Jordan James, RB, Oregon

Position rank: 11

117. Seth McLaughlin, IOL, Ohio State

Position rank: 11

118. Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

Position rank: 15

119. Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary

Position rank: 8

120. Malachi Moore, S, Alabama

Position rank: 9

121. Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado

Position rank: 12

122. Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

Position rank: 9

123. Chase Lundt, OT, UConn

Position rank: 9

124. Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State

Position rank: 19

125. Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

Position rank: 13

126. Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson

Position rank: 12

127. Nohl Williams, CB, Cal

Position rank: 14

128. DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State

Position rank: 13

129. Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami

Position rank: 14

130. Sai’vion Jones, Edge, LSU

Position rank: 20

131. Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

Position rank: 14

132. Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State

Position rank: 10

133. Brashard Smith, RB, SMU

Position rank: 15

134. Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech

Position rank: 15

135. Tai Felton, WR, Maryland

Position rank: 15

136. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

Position rank: 6

137. Jermari Harris, CB, Iowa

Position rank: 16

138. Jalen Rivers, OL, Miami

Position rank: 6

139. Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane

Position rank: 17

140. RJ Harvey, RB, UCF

Position rank: 16

141. Savion Williams, WR, TCU

Position rank: 16

142. Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon

Position rank: 17

143. Kobe King, LB, Penn State

Position rank: 10

144. Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska

Position rank: 8

145. Mello Dotson, CB, Kansas

Position rank: 18

146. Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois

Position rank: 18

147. Jackson Slater, IOL, Sacramento State

Position rank: 8

148. Dylan Fairchild, IOL, Georgia

Position rank: 9

149. Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky

Position rank: 19

150. Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State

Position rank: 10

151. Jah Joyner, Edge, Minnesota

Position rank: 21

152. Caleb Rogers, IOL, Texas Tech

Position rank: 10

153. C.J. West, DT, Indiana

Position rank: 16

154. Elijah Roberts, Edge, SMU

Position rank: 22

155. Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State

Position rank: 20

156. Logan Brown, OT, Kansas

Position rank: 11

157. Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA

Position rank: 11

158. Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

Position rank: 7

159. Fadil Diggs, Edge, Syracuse

Position rank: 23

160. Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Position rank: 17

161. Will Howard, QB, Ohio State

Position rank: 8

162. Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas

Position rank: 21

163. Zah Frasier, CB, UTSA

Position rank: 20

164. Maxen Hook, S, Toledo

Position rank: 11

165. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Edge, Georgia

Position rank: 24

166. David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas

Position rank: 25

167. Jay Toia, DT, UCLA

Position rank: 17

168. Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech

Position rank: 9

169. Ty Hamilton, DT, Ohio State

Position rank: 18

170. Joshua Gray, IOL, Oregon State

Position rank: 11

171. Tyler Baron, Edge, Miami

Position rank: 26

172. Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan

Position rank: 21

173. Ajani Cornelius, OL, Oregon

Position rank: 7

174. Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech

Position rank: 19

175. LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse

Position rank: 18

176. Myles Hinton, OT, Michigan

Position rank: 12

177. JJ Pegues, DT, Ole Miss

Position rank: 20

178. Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee

Position rank: 21

179. Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn

Position rank: 19

180. Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame

Position rank: 10

181. Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas

Position rank: 21

182. Drew Kendall, C, Boston College

Position rank: 2

183. Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska

Position rank: 22

184. Woody Marks, RB, USC

Position rank: 20

185. Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech

Position rank: 11

186. Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon

Position rank: 23

187. Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Edge, Virginia Tech

Position rank: 27

188. Jack Huber, IOL, Wisconsin

Position rank: 12

189. Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech

Position rank: 23

190. Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse

Position rank: 22

191. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

Position rank: 21

192. Cam Jackson, DT, Florida

Position rank: 22

193. Warren Brinson, DT, Georgia

Position rank: 23

194. Kaimon Rucker, Edge, North Carolina

Position rank: 28

195. Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame

Position rank: 22

196. Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin

Position rank: 13

197. Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada

Position rank: 12

198. Jake Briningstool, TE, Clemson

Position rank: 13

199. Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

Position rank: 12

200. Yahya Black, DT, Iowa

Position rank: 25

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: Everything you need to know for this week’s draft.

Nine months after selecting him fourth overall in the MLB draft, the Athletics are calling up top prospect Nick Kurtz, according to multiple reports.

The 6-foot-5 first baseman has played only 32 professional games but easily played his way to the majors, hitting 11 home runs with 37 RBI and a .336 average across three levels since being drafted. A slugger at Wake Forest, Kurtz was long in the conversation for the first overall pick in the 2024 draft, ultimately falling to the then-Oakland Athletics at No. 4.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay will have find creative ways to get Kurtz in the lineup, with current first baseman Tyler Soderstrom leading the majors with nine homers entering Tuesday. Designated hitter Brent Rooker, who won the Silver Slugger last year hitting 39 HR with 112 RBI, has experience in the outfield corners – but only played the field 14 times last season.

Playing their home games in West Sacramento until their new home is ready in Las Vegas, the Athletics are 10-12 entering Tuesday. Now adding one of the premier power hitters in the minor leagues, the A’s already rank seventh in home runs.

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson may be the early favorite for Rookie of the Year, batting .354 in 82 at-bats so far, but his new teammate Kurtz could join the conversation immediately.

Nick Kurtz stats

Kurtz made his pro debut in 2024, , batting .368 with four homers and 13 RBI in 12 games at Classes A and AA. He played in the 2024 Arizona Fall League, batting .353 with seven extra-base hits and 11 RBI in 13 games for Mesa.

In 20 games with Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2025 season, Kurtz hit seven home runs with 24 RBI and a 1.040 OPS.

Nick Kurtz prospect rankings

MLB.com: No. 35 overall
Baseball America: No. 32
Baseball Prospectus: No. 33

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Like NFL scouts who have evaluated Shedeur Sanders, academics have studied the controversy around him.

Where it starts: the son of Deion Sanders and quarterback from Colorado is the most polarizing player in the draft that starts Thursday, triggering vastly different opinions.

He’s a bust!

He’s NFL-ready!

He’s arrogant!

He’s a gentleman!

Back and forth they go, the critics and supporters, creating a cacophony and opportunity for academics to address race, fame, wealth and other issues stoking emotion among fans and analysts voicing opinions about Sanders.

Whether his arm is strong enough, his feet are quick enough, his grasp of defensive formations firm enough, those issues have been debated and will be dissected more. What’s left is to better understand why people react strongly to Sanders and what it says about us.

Breaking the quarterback mold

Cheryl Cooky is a professor at Purdue University who studies the intersections of gender, sports, culture, and the media. When talking about Shedeur Sanders, she brought up NFL history.

She pointed out that 2023 was the first time the Super Bowl featured two Black starting quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles.

‘I mean, we’re 100-plus years in the history of this league,’ she said. ‘I think that’s important context for understanding what’s happening in dynamics playing out.’

Breaking from the mostly conservative mold of quarterback, Sanders has flashed his luxury watch during games. He’s also sported diamond necklaces. It’s similar to his father, Deion, one of the most flamboyant and outspoken players in NFL history.

Of Shedeur Sanders’ style, Cooky said, “For a Black quarterback to be acting in ways that sort of violate norms and expectations gets policed even more so than I think if this was a Black player in another position or a white quarterback, for example.’

She also brought up ESPN’s Ryan Clark, who faced backlash after he said race was behind NFL evaluators anonymously criticizing Sanders for such things as being ‘arrogant’ and ‘brash.’

Said Cooky: ‘Ryan Clark making these comments five years ago, it’d be interesting to see what the response would’ve been at that particular moment when the political landscape was slightly different than what it is today.’

Comparisons to Arch Manning

Todd Boyd, the ‘Notorious Ph.D.’ at Southern California, is an expert in sports media and American pop culture. In considering the treatment of Sanders, he contemplated a future situation.

‘It’ll be interesting to watch how Arch Manning is covered,’ he said.

Manning, unlike Sanders, does not have a famous father. But he has two famous uncles (Peyton and Eli) and a legendary grandfather (Archie). They comprise the ‘First Family of Football” and may help better understand the dynamic around Shedeur.

Arch Manning, who is expected to start this season, spent the last two years primarily on the bench. Yet, Boyd noted, Arch Manning has gotten ample favorable attention.

‘The reason he’s getting that kind of attention is because of his last name, and I’ve not found anybody who’s had a problem with that,’ he said.

Being the son of Deion Sanders has not always translated into favorable attention.

‘Deion moves through the world too easily for some people’s liking,’ Boyd said.

Also, Boyd noted that for many years the narrative for Black athletes was they were underprivileged and success in athletics was their singular way out.

‘We have a generation of Black athletes now who don’t fit that stereotype, and Shedeur certainly doesn’t fit that,’ Boyd said. ‘I think some people might be slow to recognize this change, and there may be others who are potentially put off by it.’

Shades of Angel Reese

Angela Hattery, co-director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Gender Based Violence at the University of Delaware, has written extensively about sports.

Hattery, in thinking about Sanders, said she’s reminded of Angel Reese entering 2024 WNBA Draft along with her rival, Caitlin Clark.

‘There were a lot of haters of Angel Reese and everybody loved Caitlin Clark and they’re both really great players,’ Hattery said. ‘But Angel didn’t want to play the good girl. She cultivated a very different image.’

Similarly, Sanders has not conformed to the image of a traditional quarterback.

‘Black men have to fit in a much smaller box,’ Hattery said. ‘There’s just a lot of evidence for that, that we still require Black men to behave certain ways. And we prefer as a society that they behave in ways that are more normative white.

“We’re more comfortable with (President Barack) Obama, for example, than we are with Black men who are more audacious or more flashy…’

‘Some racist tendencies’

Jay Coakley, the author of ‘Sports In Society: Issues and Controversies,’ cited President Donald Trump as a factor in some of the controversial views of Sanders. In particular, Trump setting a policy captured by this quote: “We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government.” 

“Trump has raised this issue where if you’re not a white man and you’re getting publicity, it’s somehow unjustified,’’ Coakley said.

As a result, Coakley suggested, it’s understandable how Sanders has become controversial to some people.

“If there’s a fan who’s got some racist tendencies, they’re going to make that connection and they’re going to say, ‘This is a typical flashy Black athlete, and I just don’t go for them,” Coakley said. ‘And so race comes in that way. But I seriously doubt that somebody’s going to talk about race in a very explicit way for fear that they’re going to be attacked.

‘Now, as a sociologist, I know there is that kind of a connection.’

There’s only one winner in the Nico Iamaleava-Tennessee breakup, and it’s neither of those parties.

UCLA won this divorce. Everyone else lost.

The saga reached a can’t-make-this-up conclusion on Monday, when Tennessee secured a transfer quarterback to replace Iamaleava – and it’s the quarterback UCLA nudged aside in favor of the Tennessee turncoat.

Joey Aguilar is expected to transfer to Tennessee, four months after he transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA. Bruins coach DeShaun Foster got a look at Aguilar this spring and decided he’d rather have Iamaleava as his starter.

So, there you have it. Tennessee dines on UCLA’s scraps.

Oh, and UCLA also reportedly plans to add Iamaleava’s brother, Madden, a true freshman quarterback who would transfer in from Arkansas.

Iamaleava emerged a loser. So did Tennessee. Only UCLA upgraded its situation, acquiring a talented quarterback on a cut-rate deal.

Nico’s left with reputational damage to remedy. His camp engaged in negotiation stupidity when Iamaleava jilted an upper-tier SEC program coached by a proven quarterback developer in favor of a worse team.

Iamaleava tried to leverage Tennessee for a raise, and when that didn’t work, he absorbed a significant pay cut to transfer to UCLA, while moving from a state without state income tax to one with a wallet-stinging tax rate. Dave Ramsey would cringe.

Tennessee fans celebrated a brief victory lap as Iamaleava’s fate unfolded, while retaining hopes that coach Josh Heupel would plunder a quarterback upgrade. Alas, Tennessee couldn’t pry loose a premier quarterback at the 11th hour, and Heupel landed on a quarterback who completed 18 of 41 passes against Clemson last season.

Tennessee’s pickup of Aguilar ranks as the 86th-best transfer quarterback acquisition of the offseason in the 247Sports rankings. UCLA’s bargain buy of Iamaleava ranks first, although Miami and Carson Beck might like a word.

Josh Heupel wins press conference, loses offseason

After Tennessee refused to cave to Iamaleava’s quest for a lofty raise, Heupel declared “no one is bigger than” the program. Heupel won the news conference that day, but he’s losing the offseason.

Good luck finding a scout who would say the Vols wound up with the more talented quarterback in this switcheroo.

Tennessee’s transfer class ranks among the SEC’s worst. The Vols would do well to apply the cost savings of swapping Iamaleava for Aguilar to sweeten the roster with a few last-minute additions. Their depth chart is inferior to last season’s that got Tennessee to the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Aguilar will compete with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, Tennessee’s third-string quarterback in 2024, and true freshman George MacIntyre for the starting job.

Aguilar’s experience looms large, but peg Tennessee’s quarterback situation within the bottom 25% of the SEC following this quarterback swap with UCLA.

The purpose here isn’t to knock Aguilar. How could you not pull for the guy after UCLA pulled the rug out from under him? Learning Heupel’s warp-speed spread offense in just four months before the season opener will challenge Aguilar. His career completion rate won’t turn heads, but he led the Sun Belt Conference in passing yards last season.

Don’t ignore Heupel’s history. Hendon Hooker was an average quarterback for Virginia Tech. He developed into a star for Heupel after transferring to Tennessee. Heupel worked with Hooker for two seasons. Aguilar has one season of eligibility remaining – a season he’d planned to use at UCLA.

Nico Iamaleava, UCLA make for duplicitous duo

Coaches are quick to bemoan their lack of roster control. Players enjoy two transfer periods, during which they can freely move from school to school, but coaches contribute to this free agency carousel with their thirst for transfer solutions.

When Aguilar transferred to UCLA, he told ESPN it would “be amazing” to play for his home-state school and that he looked forward to the Bruins’ coaching staff developing him.

“Excited to see him take command of the team,” Foster said of Aguilar three weeks ago.

So much for that. Iamaleava and Foster are made for each other, a duplicitous duo.

But, hey, if nice guys finish last, where does that leave loyal guys? Not in Westwood.

The Vols stood on principle when backed into a corner. They rid themselves of a money-hungry quarterback but emerged with a damaged roster.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com. Follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

It’s going to be Dame Time for the first time during the 2025 NBA playoffs.

Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard told reporters after morning shootaround he plans to return to the lineup Tuesday when the Bucks face the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Lillard missed the final 14 games of the regular season and Milwaukee’s 117-98 Game 1 loss to Indiana after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot) in his calf last month.

If Lillard does play, it will be the first time since the Bucks acquired him via trade before the 2023-24 season that Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo will appear in a playoff game together. Antetokounmpo missed the postseason last year when the Bucks fell to the Pacers in a first-round series. Lillard is averaging 24.9 points and 7.1 assists per game during his second season in Milwaukee.

Here’s more information on Lillard’s potential return, his injury and what it could mean for the Bucks in their NBA playoff series against the Pacers moving forward:

Damian Lillard injury update

Lillard was officially upgraded to questionable for Game 2 by the Bucks on Monday before he told reporters in Indianapolis Tuesday morning that he is playing. It will be Lillard’s first game since March 18.

The impending return of the nine-time all-star isn’t a surprise at this point. The Bucks issued multiple positive progress reports leading into the playoffs, although they declined to disclose a specific timeline for a return prior to Lillard’s definitive message on Tuesday.

The Bucks announced on April 17 that Lillard had been granted medical clearance to resume full basketball activities. He nonetheless sat out Game 1 against the Pacers on Saturday. Lillard said Tuesday he will not be under a minutes restriction and his playing time will be a fluid decision.

“Honestly, it’s really just how I feel,’ he said, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ‘I’m going to be communicating to Doc how I’m feeling. It’s no real way to simulate being in an NBA game, let alone a playoff game, so I’m really just going in with intentions to e out there with the team and I’m going to give everything that I got. I’ll just build from there.”

Lillard’s injury was initially thought to be a calf strain. His treatment after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis included the use of blood thinners. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Damian Lillard vs. Tyrese Haliburton

Lillard engaged in a notable exchange of words with Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton while on the sideline during Game 1 and received a technical foul for his actions. He left the bench and confronted Haliburton during a timeout in play after the Bucks had challenged a call on the court.

Haliburton and Lillard have some history dating back to last season, just like these two teams. Haliburton imitated Lillard’s Dame Time watch celebration when the Bucks and Pacers met in the 2023 in-season tournament semifinals in Las Vegas.

Lillard and Haliburton are likely to be matched up often the rest of the series now that Lillard is ready to return. Antetokounmpo could use the help after he accounted for 36 points and 12 points in Saturday’s Game 1 loss, while the rest of the Bucks’ starters combined to score 14 points.

‘I don’t think it’s ever going to be perfect when you miss that much time and then you’re kind of back into an intense environment,’ Lillard said Tuesday, ‘but you gotta break yourself in somewhere and I just know that it’s not going to be a perfect time for it. I gotta go out and break myself in and I think that’s just better to do early in a series than later before it’s possibly too late.”

Pacers vs. Bucks: NBA playoffs schedule, time, TV channel, live streaming

The Eastern Conference first-round series between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks continues with Game 2 on Tuesday, April 22 in Indianapolis. Here’s the updated schedule for Pacers vs. Bucks. All times listed are Eastern.

Game 1: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 22 | 7 p.m. | NBA TV
Game 3: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, April 25 | 8 p.m. | NBA TV, ESPNU, Fubo
Game 4: Pacers at Bucks | Sunday, April 27 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV
Game 5: Bucks at Pacers | Tuesday, April 29, TBD | TBD*
Game 6: Pacers at Bucks | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD*
Game 7: Bucks at Pacers | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD*

*if necessary

The R&A would like to see U.S. President Donald Trump’s Turnberry course in Scotland return as host of The Open Championship but will first need to assess the feasibility of the venue, the governing body’s chief executive Mark Darbon said.

Turnberry, a seaside course in South Ayrshire, Scotland, has staged The Open four times – most recently in 2009 when American Stewart Cink won. Trump bought the property in 2014.

In 2021, after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, the R&A said it would not stage championships at Turnberry, but Darbon said the body’s main concerns over returning to the venue were logistical.

‘At Turnberry, there are definitely some logistical and commercial challenges that we face around the road, rail and accommodation infrastructure,’ Darbon told British media.

‘We’re doing some feasibility work around what it would look like to return to that venue and the investment that it would require.’

The 153rd edition of The Open, one of golf’s major championships, will take place from July 13-20 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, with the R&A announcing on Tuesday that a record attendance of 278,000 fans is expected at the event.

‘The last time we were there (Turnberry), I think we had just over 120,000 people,’ Darbon said.

‘We’ve just announced that this summer we’re going to welcome nearly 280,000 people here (Royal Portrush). A modern Open Championship is a large-scale event.

‘What we know for sure is the golf course is brilliant, so at some point we’d love to be back there.’

The absurdity would be hilarious if it weren’t so dangerously reckless.

College football is dying, everyone. And the sport’s leaders don’t really care.

Somewhere in Las Colinas, Texas, in a posh $600 a night five-star hotel, the muckety-mucks of the College Football Playoff are dining on five-star meals and bickering about playoff formats and automatic qualifiers and generating revenue — and getting nothing done. 

That’s four of these highfalutin’ meetings in the last four months, thank you. With nary a thing to show. 

Meanwhile, the college football world is crumbing around them.

A quarterback just held a football team hostage because none of those muckety-mucks had the foresight to make sure NIL deals had buyout clauses. Or had – and I know this is a foreign idea – a plan.

One plan. Any plan. 

One that doesn’t include the Tennessee quarterback failing to get a restructured NIL deal days before the spring transfer portal opened, and leaving to sign with UCLA. That doesn’t include the UCLA quarterback, who three months earlier transferred to Westwood from Appalachian State, leaving UCLA before playing a snap and signing with – wait for it – Tennessee.

All in a matter of a week. 

Back in Las Colinas, the 10 conference commissioners and the Notre Dame athletic director – at the behest of their university presidents (don’t ever forget that part) – will continue to play the charade of we’re for all of college football. For a better and equitable game.

When they all know damn well the SEC and Big Ten own the show. It’s their script, their three-card monte.   

They strut around the meetings with their big sticks and passive/aggressive attitudes, knowing they can whack anyone out of line with a simple execution of we’ll take our ball and go home. 

Translation: the television networks want us, not you — and we’ll start our own playoff if we don’t get our way. 

I’d be a lot happier if they were just honest about it. Here’s what we’re doing, take it or leave it. Would save a boatload of revenue in swanky resort fees ― and then they can begin the heavy lift of fixing the game.

Like slowing the bleeding by adding buyouts to NIL deals. Or adding a $200,000 transfer portal talent fee for Group of Five schools losing players to Power Four conference schools.

Group of Five schools spent time and money developing the players, they should get something in return. I mean, other than the Big Ten and SEC telling them to take it ― or you’ll get even less College Football Playoff money.

If a team is going to pay $1 million for the best tight end in the MAC, surely they’ll pay $1.2 million to cover the talent fee. And yes, the talent fee is part of the salary pool.

See how easy that is? See how that could, at the very least, give pause to a team contemplating a raid of Group of Five schools?

It’s so much easier when the villain and hero roles are clearly defined, and frankly, I don’t think the SEC and Big Ten give a flip about being the villains. But, buddy, can they put on a show like they do. 

We all know what the SEC and Big Ten want, and we all know they’re going to get it. The idea that the rest of college football has any power over them by holding out possible format changes for the final year (2025) of the old CFP contract is comical.

The Big Ten and SEC: we want a 14-team structure for the new CFP contract beginning in 2026, with four automatic qualifiers each. And we’re going to hold play-in games during championship weekend.

The rest of college football: if you do that, we’ll be really mad ― and, and, and, well, we won’t vote for the straight seeding you want for the 2025 CFP!

Heavens, not that.

But they’ll argue day after day over these inane topics, while the core of the sport is rotting. Because university presidents care about how it looks ― not how it works. 

How it looks like the NCAA (see: the 300-plus university presidents, not some singular boogeyman) has done everything it can to promote player empowerment, but did so at the cost of critical structure.

How it looks like the NCAA has given players the ability to move freely from school to school, just like coaches. But unlike coaches, there’s no contract buyout — or any tether whatsoever to keep players with a team. Certainly not loyalty. 

How it looks like the NCAA is creating opportunity for players by allowing upward mobility within the sport. You say upward mobility, I say the best players are playing for the schools that throw the most money at them — leaving a distinct class warfare between the haves who cherry pick players and have-nots who develop players and watch them walk without compensation.   

How it looks like the NCAA will share billions with the players, who haven’t earned a penny in media rights revenue for decades upon decades. But they’re only really sharing about 20 percent of athletic-related university revenue — which has many buckets of cash, not just media rights revenue.

How it looks like the NCAA is begging Congress for help with federal NIL reform, and throwing its arms up in despair when there’s nothing to show for it. When those same university presidents know the only group on the planet more dysfunctional than the NCAA is Congress. 

But sure, let’s argue for months – at posh resorts, no less – about circular arguments that will end when and where the SEC and Big Ten want them to end, anyway.

Let’s put on a dog and pony show so it looks like we know what in the world we’re doing, while the perfectly imperfect sport of our past is dying on the vine for all to see. Let’s avoid all hard truths, and incessantly blather on and on about formats and automatic qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Tennessee and UCLA just completed the first-ever effective college football player trade right under the collective noses of those who preach about a better and more equitable game.

But buddy, they sure can put on a show. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

(This story was updated to fix a typo.)