When does the Stanley Cup Final start?

That depends on what happens in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Thursday night in Dallas.

The defending champion Florida Panthers have clinched a third consecutive trip to the championship round and are awaiting the winner of the Dallas Stars-Edmonton Oilers series.

If the Oilers (up 3-1) win Thursday and bring about a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final, the series would start on June 4, TNT announced Wednesday night.

If Dallas wins and forces a Game 6, the final would start on June 7. The last possible day has already been announced as June 23, but that would change if the series moves up.

TNT is broadcasting the Stanley Cup Final this year.

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.

Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves could not overcome a slow start with their season on the line Wednesday night in Game 5 of the WesternConferencefinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Edwards scored six of Minnesota’s nine points in the opening quarter as Oklahoma City jumped out to a 26-9 lead. The Timberwolves were then outscored 39-23 in the second quarter. The Thunder cruised to a 124-94 victory and a spot in the NBA Finals.

Entering Wednesday, Edwards had averaged 25.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists through the first 14 games of the postseason.

Check out his full stat-line from Game 5:

Anthony Edwards stats vs. Thunder in Game 5

Points: 19
FG: 7-for-18
3PTs: 1-for-7
FT: 4-for-6
Rebounds: 6
Assists: 2
Blocks: 1
Steals: 0
Turnovers: 3
Fouls: 2
Minutes played: 38:30

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.

Joe Flacco made it clear Wednesday he wants to be known as more than a potential mentor to the Cleveland Browns’ young quarterback room.

Flacco, entering his 18th NFL season, said he doesn’t have any fundamental issues aiding 26-year-old Kenny Pickett, 24-year-old Dillon Gabriel and 23-year-old Shedeur Sanders as the young trio gets acclimated in Cleveland.

The 40-year-old simply wants to focus on playing at as high a level as possible after signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Browns.

‘It’s not really about that. It’s just not the main focus,’ Flacco said at the second day of Cleveland’s OTAs Wednesday when asked about being a mentor. ‘I see myself as a guy that can play in this league. So, if your main focus was just like, ‘hey, but I’m going to get you ready,’ you’re just not taking care of business.’

How does Flacco envision his potential role as a mentor? He sees himself as more of a lead-by-example type who will benefit from being on the field.

‘The best way to be a mentor, honestly, is to show people how you go to work and like I said, hope that they pick up on that stuff, but not necessarily force them to pick up on the things that you do,’ Flacco said.

Flacco has been given an early opportunity to test that theory. He appears to have the early edge in the Browns’ starting quarterback battle after beginning OTAs as Cleveland’s first-team quarterback. Whether that lasts may depend on how Pickett, Gabriel and Sanders progress as the season draws near.

Flacco – the Super Bowl 47 MVP and 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year – is welcoming the competition. He also said he is enjoying the vibe in the team’s quarterback room and working with younger quarterbacks like Sanders.

‘Shedeur has been great. I mean, he’s a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms,’ Flacco said, per ESPN. ‘I think so far, there’s been at least once in the meeting room that he’s made me crack a smile, and that’s what it’s all about. You know, he’s a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he’s been a lot of fun. I probably wasn’t too far away from playing against his dad, and now I’m playing with him.’

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It took nearly a month, but Inter Miami has found itself in the win column once again following the most challenging stretch of its Lionel Messi era.

Messi and Luis Suarez each scored two goals and delivered an assist to one another, and Inter Miami beat CF Montreal 4-2 on Wednesday night at Chase Stadium for the club’s first win in 25 days.

Messi assisted the first goal of Suarez’s brace, while Suarez assisted Messi’s second goal of the match, helping Inter Miami win for the first time since May 3 – ending a five-game stretch between victories.

Overall, Inter Miami was amid a 10-match stretch where it lost five times, settled for three draws, and faced mounting pressure before next month’s FIFA Club World Cup.

“I think the most important thing to highlight is that we need to start winning again,” Suarez said in an interview with Apple TV after the match. “We were on a losing streak, and we had to take responsibility for the poor results. Now, it’s about correcting our mistakes, winning games to build confidence, and getting back to being the team we were.”

Added Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano: “We needed to break the negative dynamic.”

Despite the victory and offensive outburst from two of the greatest goal scorers in the sport’s history, the pressure is still relevant for Messi and his cast of former Barcelona teammates – including his first-year coach.

Inter Miami will host the Columbus Crew on Saturday night in the final match before it plays in the Club World Cup opener against Egyptian side Al Ahly at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 14.

Inter Miami will likely be without three defenders – standout leftback Jordi Alba, Gonzalo Luján and Toto Aviles – who each left the Montreal match after suffering lower-body injuries in the first half. Alba and Luján had hamstring injuries, while Aviles injured his right ankle, Mascherano said.

“I’m happy with the victory, happy because there were good moments in the game. The team went back to playing the way we’re used to,” Mascherano said. “Unfortunately, it was marred by the departures of Gonzalo, Jordi and Toto.” 

Messi fired a left boot from outside the penalty area, and found the back of the net in the 27th minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead. He was assisted by midfielder Sergio Busquets, who delivered the pass and even set a pick on a defender to free his former Barcelona teammate for the score.

Suarez scored goals in the 68th and 70th minutes, and Messi ended the night with his second goal in the 88th minute.

Messi became the first player in Inter Miami history to reach 50 goal contributions (29 goals, 21 assists) in regular season play, in just his 37th game, according to MLS. 

Messi has scored 13 goals in 19 games across all competitions for Inter Miami this season, while Suarez has seven goals in 20 games. It was a resurgent effort by both stars — Messi won MLS MVP last year, while Suarez was also a finalist for the award. 

“Hopefully, they can continue in this vein,” Mascherano said of Messi, 37, and Suarez, 38. “At the end of the day, they are two of the most important players on the team and you always want them to be at their best.” 

Inter Miami, however, was unable to secure a shutout: Montreal’s Dante Sealy (74’) and Victor Loturi (90’+2’) scored for the visitors – which entered the match in last place in the MLS Eastern Conference and second-to-last in the league.

It was Inter Miami’s first win since beating the New York Red Bulls 4-1 – also the last time Messi and Suarez each scored in a match before Wednesday.

Inter Miami vs. Montreal highlights

Lionel Messi scores second goal: Inter Miami 4, Montreal 1

Lionel Messi has scored his second goal of the match, taking a pass from Luis Suarez and tipping it over the Montreal goalkeeper in the 88th minute to increase Inter Miami’s lead to 4-1.

Montreal’s Dante Sealy scores goal: Inter Miami 3, Montreal 1

Inter Miami won’t secure its first shutout in 39 days: Montreal’s Dante Sealy has scored in the 74th minute to narrow the lead.

Luis Suarez scores second goal two minutes later: Inter Miami 3, Montreal 0

Luis Suarez has scored his second goal in a two-minute span, and Inter Miami leads 3-0 against Montreal. Suarez was in the right place at the right time, picking off a Montreal defender in the penalty area, and sending another right boot into the net.

Luis Suarez scores goal: Inter Miami 2, Montreal 0

Luis Suarez capitalized on an assist from Messi, sending his right boot into the back of the net to help Inter Miami increase its lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Montreal’s Giacomo Vrioni misses shot on goal: Inter Miami 1, Montreal 0

Inter Miami found itself fortunate, but unlucky just before halftime. Montreal’s Giacomo Vrioni fired a left boot slightly outside the right post to remain scoreless – those types of opportunities late in halves have doomed Inter Miami recently. But Inter Miami defender Toto Aviles left the match with a lower body injury after the sequence, becoming the third injured defender for Messi’s side in this match.

Lionel Messi scores goal: Inter Miami 1, Montreal 0

Lionel Messi to the rescue. The Inter Miami captain fired a left boot from outside the penalty area, and found the back of the net in the 27th minute.

Messi’s goal was set up by midfielder Sergio Busquets, who delivered the pass and even set a pick on a defender to free his former Barcelona teammate for the score.

Inter Miami leads 1-0, but is playing without two defenders who left the match early due to leg injuries.

Jordi Alba leaves with injury: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0

Inter Miami’s Jordi Alba has become the second player to leave this match with an injury in the first 20 minutes. Alba limped off on his own, but his injury is tough for a club that has struggled in the last 10 matches and has one more match Saturday vs. the Columbus Crew before the FIFA Club World Cup.

Messi attempts header, but to no avail: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0

Messi left his feet to attempt a header, on a pass from Luis Suarez, but he was unable to properly connect on the opportunity in the 20th minute. About two minutes earlier, Luis Suarez was unable to put away a right boot in the 18th minute. His kick soared over the net and into the stands.

Messi gets up after three Montreal defenders converge: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0

Call it a Messi sandwich if you will: Three Montreal defenders converged to defend Messi, and he fell to the pitch after a tackle. But he quickly got back on his feet and resumed playing.  

Inter Miami has an early substitute: Inter Miami 0, Montreal 0

Inter Miami is making an early change to the lineup: Toto Aviles will replace Gonzalo Lujan, who appeared to sustain a left hamstring injury about 10 minutes into the match.

As for Messi, the World Cup champion is engaged and nearly orchestrated an opening attempt in the fourth minute, but Inter Miami was unable to get a shot on goal during the sequence.  

When is the Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal match?

Inter Miami hosts CF Montreal at Chase Stadium on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal live stream?

The match will be available to stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Is Messi playing vs. CF Montreal tonight? Inter Miami starting lineup

Messi is in the starting lineup for the Montreal match, Inter Miami announced before the match. Here’s Inter Miami’s starting 11:

Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal prediction

Inter Miami 4, Montreal 1: Expect Messi, Luis Suarez and Inter Miami to get back on track with a multi-goal performance at home. Montreal and Inter Miami enter their match ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, in surrendering goals to their opponents. However, Montreal is tied with Austin as the lowest-scoring clubs in MLS with just 10 goals from 15 matches this season. –Safid Deen

Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal betting odds

Inter Miami is the favorite to win at home (-250), while a draw (+400) has better odds than a road win by Montreal (+550). The over/under is set at 3.5 goals, according to BETMGM.

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule

May 28: Inter Miami vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
May 31: Inter Miami vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS)
June 5: Chile vs. Argentina, 9 p.m. ET (World Cup qualifying)
June 10: Argentina vs. Colombia, 8 p.m. ET (World Cup qualifying)

Messi, Inter Miami schedule for Club World Cup

June 14: Inter Miami vs. Al Alhy, 8 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)
June 19: Inter Miami vs FC Porto, 3 p.m. ET (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
June 23: Inter Miami vs. Palmerias, 9 p.m. ET (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami)

It’s do or die for the New York Knicks and the status of one of their stars is in question.

Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee contusion) is listed as questionable for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals as the series shifts back to New York with the Knicks trialing the Indiana Pacers 3-1. Towns injured his left knee late in the Knicks’ 130-121 Game 4 loss to the Pacers after he bumped knees with Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith with less than two minutes remaining in the game. Towns immediately went down and grabbed his left knee as he writhed in pain.

Towns gutted out the remainder of the game with a visible limp Tuesday and finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists, which Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said was ‘a good sign.’ Thibodeau, however, said Towns’ status for Game 5 on Thursday will come down to an evaluation on his knee.

Here’s everything we know about Towns’ injury:

Karl-Anthony Towns injury update: Knicks center questionable

New York Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns (left knee contusion) is listed as questionable ahead of Game 5 vs. the Indiana Pacers.

When asked about his knee on Tuesday, Towns shut down all talk of his injury and said he’s ‘only thinking about the loss.’ He added, ‘I’m not thinking about (my knee) right now. It’s disappointing when you don’t get a win and we didn’t do enough to get the job done tonight.’

Towns injured the same knee that he suffered a torn meniscus in during the 2023-24 season while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was forced to miss an entire month with the injury before returning for the 2024 playoffs.

The five-time All-Star has averaged 25.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists through four games of the Eastern Conference finals. He had a team-high 24 points in the Knicks’ Game 3 comeback win, when he scored 20 of his 24 in the fourth quarter as the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit.

‘We’ve been a team that has kind of found a way to do the impossible when it seems impossible,’ Towns said on Tuesday. ‘We just keep fighting. This is going to be a testament to our whole playoff run. Now we have to be in the biggest fight of our life and of our season.’

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.

Tiger Woods’ 16-year-old son, Charlie Woods, won his first American Junior Golf Association event with a final-round score of 6-under on Wednesday.

Woods finished the Team TaylorMade Invitational with a 15-under 201 at the Streamsong Resort Black Course in Bowling Green, Florida, beating a field of 71 total players.

The younger Woods’ final round consisted of eight birdies and two bogeys for a three-shot victory over Phillip Dunham, Luke Colton, and Willie Gordon.

Woods, a junior at the Benjamin School, began the tournament ranked No. 606 in the AJGA rankings, with his best finish tying for 25th at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in March.

Woods began the day at 9-under and finished with four straight pars.

Earlier this month, Woods failed in his second attempt to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Open, set for June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

Tyreek Hill is ready to turn the page and begin a new chapter with the Miami Dolphins.

Hill’s 2024 season began with him being detained by police outside Hard Rock Stadium and ended with him ready to move on. But that trade never came and Hill is back in the fold for the upcoming season.

He has some fences to mend in advance of training camp.

The receiver is now singing a different tune at organized team activities (OTAs), saying on Wednesday that he needs to prove himself again as a receiver and a teammate.

‘That’s every day in this league,’ Hill told reporters, via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. ‘Every day, you’ve got to prove who you are, and it doesn’t matter how much you’ve earned or how much success you’ve had in this league. It’s always the next day mentality. That’s something that my grandparents raised me by and that’s something Mike (McDaniel) preaches here in this locker room.

‘Every day, I’m trying to prove myself as one of those guys that this team can depend on in crucial moments. I’m (going to) stand on that, too, though, just me as a person, as a player, as an individual. I try to carry myself in that way.’

Hill missed the playoffs for the first time in his nine-year career last season, which seemed to be a major source of frustration following a Week 18 loss to the New York Jets.

‘It was tough. Obviously, emotions were high then,’ Hill said. ‘At the end of the day, man, I’m just looking to move forward from that, hoping that I can prove to myself and prove to my teammates that I’m still one of them ones, man, who likes chasing 2K (receiving yards), still one of those ones chasing playoff dreams and all that great stuff.’

‘For one, … I’m going to church more and doing more therapy more,’ Hill said. ‘I’ve been finding that more of my side lately, just being more involved in that. Then, just understanding what coach is trying to do. I feel like when I first got here, I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t all the way bought in, but me having a better understanding of what he’s trying to push throughout the locker room, I feel like now I understand him better. I understand Tua (Tagovailoa) better, I understand Bev (offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell). Our new receiver coach (Robert Prince), me and him clicked immediately when he got here.

‘Everybody’s on the same page, man.’

When asked about his desire to be a team captain, Hill responded by saying he doesn’t deserve it.

‘I gotta prove myself,’ Hill said, via the Miami Herald’s Omar Kelly. ‘This OTAs, training camp, I gotta prove myself. I gotta show up different. The mindset gotta be different. I don’t feel like I deserve it, and if I didn’t get it, I wouldn’t dwell on it. I wouldn’t sweat it because I put myself in that position.’

A five-time All-Pro, Hill failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for just the third time in his career last season. His third year in Miami proved to be the worst after two 1,700-yard seasons following his arrival.

Hill battled a wrist injury all season long and dealt with the floundering Dolphins’ offense, which struggled to find the magic from years prior – dropping from the second-best scoring offense in 2023 to 22nd-ranked in 2024.

Fresh off surgery to repair that nagging injury, the 31-year-old will work to regain his form in 2025, in the hopes that Miami does, too.

If nothing else, this season is already off to a better start.

Mike Vrabel is midway through his first offseason as head coach of the New England Patriots. He’s been tasked with helping the franchise improve on a 4-13 campaign in 2024.

New England invested significantly in free agency to enhance the roster with veteran talent, particularly at wide receiver. The Patriots agreed on a three-year contract with four-time Pro Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs.

As offseason training activities (OTAs) begin this week for the Patriots, Vrabel is answering questions about their big-name wide receiver addition.

Diggs was not in attendance for OTAs – which are voluntary – on May 28. He was recently seen on a boat in a video circulating on social media, and Vrabel said the team is ‘aware of’ the viral post.

‘Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field,’ Vrabel said when asked about the video. ‘We’re hoping that with our time here on the field today, that when we don’t have a script and we’re on the call periods, that we’re making great decisions. The message will be the same for all our players, that we’re trying to make great decisions. Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club.’

When asked if he’s talked to Diggs since the video was posted on social media, Vrabel said he talks to the players every day, including the ones who are at OTAs and the ones who are not.

Vrabel reiterated that some players are in attendance for OTAs but others aren’t.

‘This is a voluntary part of our offseason program,’ he said. ‘Every player that’s not here, which there aren’t many, have been in communication with me and their position coaches.’

Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 8 of the 2024 season. He injured his knee while running a route in the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts.

‘I think he’s doing everything like everybody else,’ said Vrabel. ‘He’s working hard; I think he’s excited about being here and being a Patriot. He’s a motivated player, he’s a hungry player, just like everybody else that’s here.’

Diggs is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2025 season, his 11th in the NFL.

If Pittsburgh Steelers fans are frustrated with the current state of their team’s quarterback situation, they are not alone.

Former Steelers quarterback and Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw slammed his former team on 103.7 The Buzz’s ‘Morning Mayhem’ show on Tuesday. Bradshaw criticized the team for mishandling the development of quarterback Kenny Pickett in previous years and lambasted their current pursuit of veteran Aaron Rodgers.

‘I liked Kenny Pickett,’ Bradshaw said of the Steelers’ 2022 first-round pick, whom the team traded after two seasons. ‘When they got him to Pittsburgh, they didn’t protect him, they didn’t get him an offensive line. They wanted to run the football, but they didn’t have an offensive line that could protect and they didn’t have weapons. He had no wide receivers to speak of.

‘Then they throw a kid in there for two years and you’ve got an offense that doesn’t fit and doesn’t work, and they can’t run because their offensive line’s not even good enough for a run blocking team. Now, they’re saying Kenny Pickett is a failure. He wasn’t a failure, the Steelers were a failure.’

In 2024, after trading away Pickett, Pittsburgh relied on two veteran starters: former Bears first-rounder Justin Fields and Super Bowl 48 champion Russell Wilson. Both left for New York in free agency – Fields signed with the Jets; Wilson, with the Giants.

Pickett is now with his third team, the Cleveland Browns, after the Philadelphia Eagles traded him earlier this offseason. The former Pitt product holds a 15-10 career record as a starter with a career completion rate of 62.4%, 4,765 passing yards and 15 touchdowns to 14 interceptions.

Terry Bradshaw rips Steelers for Aaron Rodgers pursuit

Bradshaw’s criticism didn’t end at the team’s past fiascos. Bradshaw also tackled Pittsburgh’s current, months-long courtship of Rodgers, who is still a free agent, even as the Steelers began OTAs on Tuesday.

‘That’s a joke. That to me is just a joke,’ Bradshaw said. ‘What are you gonna do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.’

Team owner Art Rooney II recently told reporters multiple times that he and the team will wait ‘a little while longer’ on Rodgers to make a decision.

In the meantime, the Steelers have three other quarterbacks on their roster: Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, both of whom signed with the team this offseason, and Will Howard, Pittsburgh’s 2025 NFL Draft sixth-round pick.

Rudolph has the most starting experience between the three (18 games) and played five seasons with the Steelers prior to joining the Tennessee Titans last year. He re-signed with Pittsburgh on a two-year, $8 million deal in March.

In 2024, Rodgers had a completion rate of 63% with 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. New York let Rodgers know the team planned to go in a different direction in February before releasing him in March.

Time will tell whether the Steelers (or Rodgers) will heed Bradshaw’s words or if they’re destined for another year of regular-season success before an early playoff exit. Pittsburgh has made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons but has not won a postseason game since 2016.

No player’s path to the NFL draft resembles a straight line.

While it’s typical for prospects to enjoy steady and sometimes even exponential growth on their way to the pros, there’s no single way to reach the next level. And with injuries, coaching changes and other challenges now commonplace in the collegiate world, experiencing a setback or two is hardly a death knell for a player’s NFL future, especially in a landscape that has routinely given rise to late bloomers and sixth-year seniors breaking out. And with the likes of Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. serving as some of the most prominent examples of players who shook off earlier struggles en route to changing the draft conversation surrounding themselves, there’s still plenty of hope for anyone looking for a career reset.

Here are 10 NFL draft prospects for 2026 who will be looking to bounce back this season in order to boost their stock:

Carson Beck, QB, Miami (Fla.)

At this point last year, there were few established entities among the 2025 draft-eligible quarterbacks. The search for a potential franchise passer pointed some to Beck, whose impressive build (6-4, 220 pounds) and comfort dissecting defenses over the middle suggested the Georgia starter could be the early front-runner to be the first signal-caller selected in his class. But by the middle of last fall, the composure that was a hallmark of his style in 2023 was sorely missing, as Beck regularly melted down under pressure and had four contests with multiple interceptions. Still, his stock is far from unsalvageable. As the successor to Cam Ward after his transfer to Miami, Beck will look to capitalize on his transfer and final collegiate season just as the No. 1 pick did for the Hurricanes last year. His playing style is, of course, markedly different from that of Ward, as Beck’s rhythmic approach often leaves him out of sorts when he’s forced to account for an instant pass rush or operate out of structure. But if he keeps the highest-scoring offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision rolling, Beck could re-enter the first-round conversation.

Conner Weigman, QB, Houston

Between the tools that helped earn him five-star status as a recruit and the promise he showed in four stats the previous season, Weigman stirred plenty of excitement as a new coaching staff took over at Texas A&M in 2024. Then the reality check hit hard. He sustained a shoulder injury in a disastrous outing in a season-opening loss to Notre Dame, with the ailment later sidelining him for nearly a month. Despite engineering an upset of a then-top 10 team in Missouri upon his return, he was later benched for Marcel Reed against LSU and would never resume his starting role. In search of a fresh start, the 6-3, 215-pounder jumped to Houston, where he could boost his profile if he’s able to elevate an offense that ranked ninth-lowest in passing yards in 2024. Though he’s at best a developmental prospect at this point, the junior still has two years to deliver on his considerable upside.

Byrum Brown, QB, South Florida

As a redshirt freshman, Brown was the only other player besides Jayden Daniels to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush at least 800 in the 2023 season. That’s pretty good company, especially for a redshirt freshman. A leg injury, however, knocked him out for eight games last season and halted his upward trajectory. With two years of eligibility remaining, the 6-3, 225-pounder will have ample time to highlight his substantial arm strength and comfort making plays on the move. While he’ll have to demonstrate he can hold up against stiffer competition after struggling against Alabama and Miami last season, Brown could generate a significant buzz if he fares well in his highly anticipated return.

Jaydn Ott, RB, Oklahoma

For the first two years of his career, Ott powered Cal’s offense with his reliable running, racking up 2,202 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground from 2022-23. But things fell apart last season when he suffered an ankle injury in the Golden Bears’ opener, as he managed just 385 yards (and 3.5 yards per carry) while dealing with the fallout of the ailment. At Oklahoma, he shouldn’t have to shoulder the same load he did at Cal, which should allow him to re-establish himself as a ball carrier capable of pacing an offense with his interior running.

Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma

After transferring from Purdue, Burks looked to be in a good spot to stake his claim as the latest diminutive pass catcher worthy of an early-round draft slot. The 5-9, 181-pounder showed early flashes of his promise with three touchdown catches against Temple in his Sooners debut. But he suffered a soft-tissue injury in a September loss to Tennessee and would play in just one game the rest of the year, with a concussion sustained against Missouri knocking him out for the remainder of the campaign. With new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer importing the high-flying passing attack they mastered at Washington State, Burks should be in line to showcase his deep speed and impressive tracking ability one year after he averaged just 7.9 yards per catch.

Nic Anderson, WR, LSU

Having hauled in 10 touchdown catches and averaged 21 yards per reception in a breakout 2023 campaign, Anderson entered last season as one of college football’s most formidable big-play receivers. But his follow-up effort never truly launched, with an injury that was sustained in fall camp and later reaggravated limiting him to just one appearance last year. The 6-4, 219-pounder is now starting over with the Tigers, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier should relish the chance to take advantage of Anderson’s downfield playmaking ability.

Earnest Greene III, OT, Georgia

Despite boasting three players who would end up as Day 2 draft picks this spring, the Bulldogs’ offensive line was not without its fair share of miscues last fall. An insufficient push up front led the rushing attack to rank just second to last in the Southeastern Conference (124.4 yards per game), and the group also surrendered nearly twice as many sacks (25) as it did the previous season (13). Among the letdowns was Greene, an SEC All-Freshman pick in 2023 who was hampered by a shoulder injury for part of his sophomore campaign. The 6-4, 320-pounder is now flipping to right tackle after serving as Beck’s blindside protector for most of the past two seasons. If he exhibits more refinement and help gets Georgia’s offense back on track, Greene could draw teams in thanks to his quickness as both a pass protector and run blocker. But he still has work to do to be considered among the top draft-eligible offensive tackles, and his frame could portend a move to guard.

Patrick Payton, DE, LSU

When the Los Angeles Rams selected Jared Verse and Braden Fiske in the first two rounds of last season’s draft, Payton seemed well-positioned to be Florida State’s next premier pass rusher as he came off a seven-sack season. But the Seminoles’ woes in a 2-10 year extended to seemingly every level, and the 6-5, 255-pounder netted just four sacks. Transferring to LSU as part of a highly touted portal class, however, could help Payton rediscover his early-career form. A spot in the top 50 is entirely within reach for an edge threat with his frame and range of ways to get into the backfield, though he’ll need to bulk up and play stronger at the point of attack to get there.

Bear Alexander, DT, Oregon

A former five-star recruit who began his career at Georgia, Alexander still finds his college career defined by potential more so than production. The 6-3, 315-pounder was one of the few bright spots for a maligned USC defense in 2023, as he generated consistent pressure seldom seen for a player of his build on the interior. But Alexander decided last season to redshirt after just three games amid a clash with the coaching staff over playing time. Now at Oregon, he’ll be looking to take the sizable step from generating a smattering of splash plays to becoming a full-time force.

Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

Perkins is one of three LSU players on this list, and his stock might have the most volatility of any of them. In his breakout freshman season, he quickly established himself as one of college football’s most explosive defenders, racking up 7 ½ sacks and 13 tackles for loss. But his effectiveness waned after moving from an edge rusher role to inside linebacker in 2023, and he then suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament last September. The 6-0, 220-pounder poses a substantial riddle for any team hoping to unlock his full explosiveness and ability to chase down plays in the backfield. While moving to the STAR position in the Tigers’ defense should help underscore his versatility, Perkins also will have to prove that he has an answer for beating the blocks that too often engulfed him in previous years.