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Cincinnati brings Jerrod Calhoun back home to Ohio as new Bearcats head coach

Cincinnatihas hired Utah State'sJerrod Calhounas its next men's basketball head coach, multiple sources confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday, March 23.

USA TODAY Sports

The move comes one day after Calhoun's Aggies teamlost to No. 1 seed Arizona 78-66in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Utah State finished the season 29-7, winning the Mountain West regular-season and tournament titles.

Over his two seasons with the Aggies, Calhoun's teams went 55-15 and made the NCAA tournament twice.

REQUIRED READING:March Madness winners, losers spawn Big Ten dominance entering Sweet 16

Calhoun is an Ohio native who graduated fromCincinnatiin 2004. He served as a student assistant under Bob Huggins from 2003-04 and later coached under Huggins as an assistant at West Virginia from 2007-12.

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The 44-year-old Calhoun was previously the head coach at Youngstown State, where he went 118-106 from 2017-24, and Fairmont State, a Division II school in West Virginia where he went 124-38 from 2012-17, which included a national runner-up finish in 2017. One of Calhoun's assistants for three seasons at Fairmont State was current Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.

With Calhoun's departure, Utah State continues its recent standing as a way station for top mid-major coaches in the sport. Calhoun is the fourth coach in the past six years who has left the Aggies for another job, three of which were in power conferences, joining Craig Smith (Utah), Ryan Odom (VCU) and Danny Sprinkle (Washington). Despite that turnover, Utah State has made the NCAA tournament in six of the past seven years in which it was held. During that stretch, it went 201-71 and won at least 25 games six times.

The Aggies will be heading to the reformed Pac-12 after this season. Given the recent track record of their coaches, they'll instantly become one of the more attractive job openings in the sport.

At Cincinnati, Calhoun will inherit a program that has two national championships to its name and that was a national powerhouse under Huggins during the 1990s and 2000s, but has gone seven years without an NCAA tournament appearance, the program's longest such drought in more than 30 years.

He'll replace Wes Miller, who was fired earlier this month after going 100-74 in five seasons. Since joining the Big 12 ahead of the 2024-25 season, the Bearcats are 37-31 overall and 16-22 in conference play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Cincinnati basketball hires Jerrod Calhoun from Utah State as new coach

Cincinnati brings Jerrod Calhoun back home to Ohio as new Bearcats head coach

Cincinnatihas hired Utah State'sJerrod Calhounas its next men's basketball head coach, multiple sources confirme...
2026 NFL Draft combined big board: No. 1 overall prospect is a Big Ten star — just not Fernando Mendoza

We're inside of a month until the2026 NFL Draft.Both of Yahoo Sports' NFL Draft experts, Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, have delivered their initial 50-player individual big boards (see below).

Yahoo Sports

Now, they deliver the combined version, which turned out the exact same across two ranking methodologies (Borda-style point system and straight consensus rank, with any player unranked by either expert assigned a rank of 51).

2026 NFL Draft individual big boards:Nate Tice|Charles McDonald

1. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State

There isn't anything Reese can't do in terms of his assigned tasks within the functions of linebacker and defensive end play. He can hammer the run, spot drop, play match and rush the passer. He has sky-high potential in any defensive scheme. This is a ready-made franchise front-seven player who should flirt with Pro Bowl status as a rookie.— Charles McDonald

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2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

Mendoza's production and Indiana's success went through the roof under Curt Cignetti, but just traits-wise, Mendoza has a lot to like. He's a tall athlete with good size (all 236 pounds of him in Indianapolis) with a loose arm and good overall frame. Mendoza can put some real zip on the football on underneath and intermediate throws, making attempts with college hashes seem routine because of how consistently he can put those throws on the money. His footwork has polish and he already has rapidly improved pocket movement. He already shows encouraging snaps of progressing and moving in the pocket to find answers on true passing downs and in high-leverage situations like third down and in the red zone. He's consistently accurate at all three levels of the field, which is probably his standout trait. He already shows off a knack for locating the football away from defenders and is willing to push the ball in all types of situations, an encouraging sign against the tighter NFL windows he'll face.

Mendoza is also a good athlete who can create a bit with his legs (but prefers to win as a thrower). He is an intriguing package of traits and polish with a high IQ (he's deadly in two-minute situations) and real feel for the position. To me, there are some similarities to Matt Ryan. He took a lot of sacks at Cal, but was cleaned up in Indiana's much friendlier surroundings. Indiana's offense is RPO-heavy, but Mendoza shows an ability to drop back consistently and find the right answer. Mendoza has a style, accuracy, and set of tools that point to a higher ceiling than what he's getting credit for right now, with a floor and polished understanding to play right away and not be a total disaster. —Nate Tice

3. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

Downs has been arguably the best defensive back in college football since his freshman year at Alabama. He won't be the first pick in the draft because safeties tend to slide on draft day, but he has all the skills and smarts to immediately be one of the better safeties in the league from Day 1 with real deal upside to be an elite, premier defensive player in the league. —CM

4. Rueben Bain Jr., Edge, Miami

Bain is a strongly built defender who can impact the game in a variety of roles. He has the strength to hold his own at the point of attack and can constantly knock blockers back in one-on-one situations. He has light feet and can bend and is effective on defensive twists and games, too. Bain was one of the best defenders in college football this season, bullying blockers into the quarterback's lap and showing up in big moments.Bain's arm length is a talking point, and it shows up at times as he tries to disengage, but he does a great job of mitigating it because of how quickly he gets off the football and how he can get into blockers. Bain is kind of the epitome of what this draft is full of: good football players with a blemish that makes you squint. His build and powerful play style remind me a lot of Brandon Graham. —NT

5. David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Bailey is pure heat off the edge. He was a designated pass rusher during his time at Stanford, but showed real game-breaking flashes on his limited snaps. On a more extended run at Texas Tech, Bailey's explosive athleticism constantly showed up with his ability to quickly turn the corner on offensive tackles. His violent hands and relentless energy kept blockers off-kilter. Bailey had a great showing in Indianapolis, with testing and measurements (6-foot-4, 251 pounds, 33 3/4-inch arm length, 4.5 40-yard dash) that makes you hopeful that he can keep improving against the run. While he has come a long way against the run, and plays hard, he seems like he will never be better than average there. But the reason a team would draft Bailey high is because of his ability to get after the quarterback. He can rack up pressures when he's on the field, and any player who can win their one-on-one opportunities is going to be highly valued. —NT

6. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

Every touch has a chance to go to the house with Love. And while he has legit home run ability, he knows how to throttle between speeds to use it effectively. Love has good vision and is a strong runner who can take a steady stream of touches. He has the size and vision to work between the tackles and has a knack for setting up his blocks as a runner, all while constantly staying balanced and square to the line. The only blemish is his more upright running style. Love is a game-changer in the backfield and can turn any touch into a touchdown. If a running back is to get selected early in the draft, he has to have every-down ability as a runner, receiver, and pass protector. Love checks those boxes in permanent ink. —NT

7. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

Styles caught the eyes of the national public with anabsurd performance at the combine, but he's more than a workout warrior. Styles, the third Ohio State defender in this top 10, has the range and power that teams need from off-ball linebacker prospects. Elite linebackers have become a bit of a dying breed in the NFL, but Styles has a rare enough skill set to get them back on track. —CM

8. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

Freeling likely cemented his status as a top-10 pick after an incredible workout at the combine, but his rise to the start of the draft has been in play since Georgia's loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season. Over the past year, Freeling might be the most improved player in college football, moving from a struggling starter to a stalwart starter on one of the most physically imposing offenses in the country. His upside is through the roof. —CM

9. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

A smart player who's quick to read and react in coverage, Delane has had strong moments as both a zone and man coverage defender this season. He has the twitchiness to stay sticky in man coverage and his high football awareness showed up in zone coverage, where he has a knack for reading quarterbacks and making plays on the football. Delane doesn't have top-end length and his athleticism might be moregoodthangreat, but he just has a feel for playing in zone coverage and timing up his breaks on the football, and that's going to translate right away at the next level. —NT

10. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

Lomu hasn't gotten as much fame and praise as his teammate, Spencer Fano, but he might have a more NFL-ready body and game than Fano. Lomu is a big, powerful explosive run blocker with a nasty mean streak. He has upside to continue improving as a pass blocker. —CM

11. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

A long-legged and fluid outside receiver, Tate has good hands and is comfortable extending for catches away from his body, with a real knack for coming down with catches near the sideline. He has good game speed and can eat up ground with his strides, sometimes surprising cornerbacks with how quickly he is able to close space. Tate's best asset as a route runner is his ability to throttle speeds and sink into his routes. He has a real feel for finding space against zone coverage and his sideline catches are just so enjoyable to watch. I really like Tate's game as a pass catcher who checks a lot of boxes, even if he might not have the highest of ceilings. He can help out any offense and team setup. —NT

12. Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

Sadiq is the unquestioned consensus top tight end in this year's class. He doesn't have prototypical size for the position, but his athleticism will immediately make him a matchup nightmare for linebackers and slot defensive backs. Sadiq isn't necessarily a road-grader in the run game, but he gives enough effort in that regard to at least be functional for the run game. —CM

13. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

Mauigoa has good size and plays with a wide, balanced base. He is a strong and efficient mover, with his smarts showing up in how quickly he moves to his assignment in the run game, maximizing what might be a lack of high-end overall athleticism. He already displays polished technique with his hand usage as well. Guard might be his best spot in the NFL, but he is a good enough athlete to have a chance to stay on the outside because he completely understands what he is as an athlete and football player. He can sometimes get out over his skis when working to the second level or working to finish a play, something that again might indicate a lack of top-end athleticism. He still should be an instant starter at the next level because of his clean technique, size, smarts and overall game. —NT

14. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

Clemson's offense struggled at times this past season, but it wasn't due to its offensive line play. For the first time in his entire tenure, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has an offensive tackle prospect who is drawing the attention of NFL scouts in the first round of the draft. Miller has primarily played on the right side of the line, but he has the athleticism to cleanly make a move over to the left side if his future team wants that. —CM

15. Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

Faulk is a smooth athlete who can bend and knife inside on stunts and really disrupt run games. He has developed a much better pass rush plan this season and with vastly improved hand usage. He is built like a traditional 4-3 defensive end, but Faulk aligns across the defensive line for Auburn and can be used as an inside pass rusher and even as a two-gapper in a three-down front. Faulk isn't strictly a flashy player against the pass. He is willing to scrap against the run and will meet pullers at the point of attack and absolutely dominates tight ends in the run game. His fluidity, length and hard-working style has all the makings of a disruptive edge. Faulk still has room for improvement, but he's young and has already shown the ability to take over games, but not quite consistently. Even if it doesn't always show up in the box score, Faulk is already a strong run defender who will translate to the next level. Even if he becomesjustan average pass rusher, that's a good defender to have on your team. —NT

16. Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

Woods is athletic and, perhaps more important, he's versatile, with the ability to be disruptive from multiple alignments. He didn't have the dominant season many projected entering the season, but he still showed enough to keep teams intrigued that he might be able to live up to the sky-high potential that his athleticism gives him. —CM

17. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

Tyson has struggled with injuries over the past season, but when he's at his best he's an explosive down-field threat with legit speed and contested-catch ability. Tyson has the potential to be a real WR1 in the NFL with his ability to be a game-breaker at "X receiver." He just needs to be healthy in the NFL. —CM

18. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Yes, both of Utah's tackles made the big board. Fano played left tackle before moving to right tackle in 2024 but I think he would be best kicking inside at the next level. He has a long and lean build, which he can look to add weight to, but already shows off the consistent ability to get tangible movement in the run game. Fano is a springy athlete (and tested like one in Indianapolis) who can constantly stay on his feet and with pass rushers and any post-snap movement, and he is also a strong finisher in the run game. Fano's short arms (32 ⅛ inches) has me concerned about how he projects as a tackle at the next level and he would have a unique build for a guard or center, but the pop and drive he can get will help him out on the inside, and his easy athleticism and movement ability would make him a weapon out in space as a puller or on screens. —NT

19. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

A big, long right tackle who came to football late and went to JUCO before joining Arizona State, Iheanachor can easily be labeled as a "project," but his film indicates more polish and refinement than you'd expect. He has ideal size and is an excellent athlete who can stay balanced and latched onto his blocks. His hand usage got much cleaner and more patient throughout his final season, an indication of the way Iheanachor can adjust and refine his game quickly. I'm bullish on Iheanachor. He has the strength to move defenders in the run game and is comfortable taking on the better athletes in pass protection. He can stay on the right side but has the movement skills to bump over to the left side down the road for a team that continues to develop him. He's an exciting combination of tools with enough real film that playing right away won't be too much for him. —NT

20. Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

McCoy missed the 2025 season with an ACL injury, but he's got the skills to still be considered for the first-round. McCoy has nice deep speed and an ability to play the sideline that should get him drafted fairly early. —CM

21. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

A smooth route runner in a big frame, Boston can easily get in and out of his breaks and is agile enough to be a dangerous punt returner despite being 6-foot-4, 212 pounds. Boston is a hands catcher with range who can quickly transition into a runner because of the confidence he has in his ball skills. His ability to consistently adjust for the football, combined with his frame, makes him a weapon along the sideline and in the red zone. Boston has build-up speed with the ball in his hands and can pull away with his long strides, and to cap it all off he has a knack for the little things like blocking and route timing. While Boston doesn't seem to have overwhelming speed or burst, he is a fluid athlete who can win in isolated situations and at all three levels. It's not easy to find a true "X" WR body type with actual skills like this. —NT

22. Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

This is pure planet theory stuff here but Banks has a combination of size, athleticism and smarts to grow into an impact NFL defender. He played in only three games this season, but his ability to be disruptive off the snap and affect offensive lines is already incredibly impressive. The tackling has a long way to go, but everything else is NFL-ready. —CM

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23. Olaivavega Ioane, IOL, Penn State

Ioane is one of the few high-end interior offensive line prospects in this draft. Even though he struggles at times with consistency, there aren't many players in this class who project as a Day 1 starting NFL offensive lineman. That alone should get the physical, athletic guard locked in as a top-40 selection. —CM

24. T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

Clemson, as it has done for many years, has multiple highly touted defensive linemen in consideration for the early portions of the draft. The athletic, heavy-handed Parker joins defensive tackle Peter Woods in the top-25 of this big board. Parker might not have the super athletic traits to end up as a perennial 10-sack player in the NFL, but he has the chance to at least be a plus starter on quality defensive lines in the future. At 263 pounds, Parker's frame gives him the option to either be a true defensive end in a four-man front or get a little heavier to be a flex player in more creative defenses. —CM

25. Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

Terrell is a lightning fast defender who can stay in the hip pocket of receivers. He has below-average size (186 pounds at the scouting combine), but is a tough defender willing to tackle and scrap against bigger receivers. Clemson underwhelmed this past season, but Terrell was still competitive game-in and game-out. His feisty style, play recognition and ball skills make him another exciting young slot dynamo to enter the league. —NT

26. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

The only thing Allen might be missing is elite speed as far as his draft profile goes. Allen earned time as a true freshman on Georgia's talented defense and ascended to a leadership role quickly. His smarts, physicality and willingness to do the dirty work helped make him a star in Athens and should help him get into the starting lineup quickly in the NFL. —CM

27. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

A toolsy safety with size and explosiveness, McNeil-Warren plays with an edge on every snap that's palpable. It's hard to not notice where the future NFL prospect is located when watching Toledo's defense. He's a hard hitter who also has the length and range to play as the deep safety in coverage. His burst and physicality show up when he has to come down and play the run or when jarring the ball loose from pass catchers over the middle. I like McNeil-Warren's game in any type of modern defense, with his size being an asset against bigger wide receivers and athletic tight ends. —NT

28. Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

Thieneman did a little bit of everything for the Ducks, including being used in a rover position that is becoming increasingly popular. Being centrally located, whether on the back end as a deep safety or playing somewhere in the box, is where Thieneman does his best work. He is perfect for teams that will run quarters-based coverages that allow him to be a true two-way defender against the run and pass and would unlock his play recognition, overall athleticism and burst to close on the football. But I think he can find a role in any type of defense and be a good player for a long time. —NT

29. Makai Lemon, WR, USC

A quick and twitchy route runner, Lemon does his damage primarily from the slot. While Lemon doesn't have outstanding size he can play bigger than his height and weight because of his great hand-eye coordination and ball skills. Those traits show up in contested catch situations and in the red zone. Lemon is a chain-mover from the inside and also a big-play threat because of his speed, after-catch ability and knack for finding soft spots against zone. I have some questions about how Lemon's game will look on the outside or against more press-happy NFL cornerbacks. If he can win from on the ball and show that press doesn't stifle him as much as it did at times in college against larger cornerbacks, then Lemon's ceiling and thus value is higher. But, as of right now, I consider him a slot-only player, a good one, but I can get only so high with that archetype. —NT

30. Zion Young, Edge, Missouri

Young is a fun prospect to watch. He's not the most explosive or bendiest pass rusher in the world, but he has a rugged approach to the game that should endear himself to teams looking for high-end depth on the edge of their defense. Young excels at stuffing the run and appears to have upside as a pass rusher. —CM

31. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Concepcion is an explosive weapon who has had college coaches at multiple stops figuring out every type of way to get the ball in his hands. He has evolved his game and showcased more "real" wide receiver skills in 2025 at Texas A&M in terms of winning on the outside. He can create big plays with the ball in his hands, something always highly valued. He still needs to refine his route tree and consistency catching the football. —NT

32. Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State

It's fairly surprising Ohio State exited the playoffs so quickly with as many Buckeyes that have appeared on this list. McDonald is another Ohio State defender who should hear his name called fairly early in April's draft. McDonald is a classic nose tackle who can really clog up holes on the interior and help put his defense in advantageous spots by hunkering down and winning the early down plays. There's some pass rush upside here, but the main thing is the main thing — stopping the damn run. —CM

33. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

The second Volunteers corner on this list has some similarities as teammate Jermod McCoy. Hood has some solid ball skills and ability to play man-on-man coverage that will boost his draft stock as April nears. Hood had an impressive combine workout, running a 4.44 in the 40-yard dash and jumping over 40 inches on the vertical leap. —CM

34. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU

Nussmeier had an inconsistent final season as he survived the death throes of the Brian Kelly era in Baton Rouge. He has a below-average build and isn't an overwhelming athlete, but his gunslinger mentality maximizes every concept that's run for him and he knows how to get the ball in play. Nussmeier will push the ball and does so with clean timing and ball placement. He has plenty of arm and maximizes it with his timing. He can get himself in trouble with his aggression, but he really makes constant good decisions with the football and plays to win the game rather than just find the safest answer. I'm planning on writing a deeper dive on Nussmeier (and other QBs) soon, but I see a potential solid starter in the right situation with a good understanding of properly playing the quarterback position. —NT

35. Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas

Hill has excellent sideline-to-sideline speed and his length puts him around the football constantly against the run and pass. He has the athleticism to turn and run in coverage and the length to challenge bigger pass catchers. He is a good tackler in space and can close on the ball carrier all around the field. Hill's burst also shows up as a blitzer because of his bend and sheer speed. His play recognition is solid, and if the game slows down for him even slightly he could flourish at the next level because of his explosiveness and ceiling as a player. I like Hill as a three-down modern linebacker who can do a little bit of everything for a defense, even if he still needs a little work. —NT

36. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

A mountain of a man, Proctor can completely wipe out defenders as soon as he gets his hands on them in the run game. Despite being so large, Proctor has above-average balance and footwork. Like most large players, he can play high at times and can get caught being slow out of his stance against speedier edge rushers. He can also lack sustainability in pass protection and fall off his blocks in the run game against players he's unable to fully latch onto. It's something that might get harder at the next level. Proctor still has to work on his consistency, but he's young, and his weight was encouraging at the scouting combine. His tools probably have NFL offensive line coaches excited to try and take Proctor's game to the next level. —NT

37. Christen Miller, DL, Georgia

Miller is not the most dynamic defensive lineman Georgia has had during the Kirby Smart era, but he's a steady player who should be a quality piece on the interior in the NFL. He runs hot and cold, but his best tape is good enough to land him on this top 50 in what is perceived to be a weaker class. —CM

38. R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma

Every defense could use a dirty work edge defender and Thomas fits that bill easily. He doesn't necessarily excel in every single task, but he is at least competent as an all-around player and shows real flashes of brilliance throughout his film. He was a big reason why the Sooners' defensive line was one of the most feared in the country and should be a high-end rotation player at worst in the NFL. —CM

39. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

Good things seem to happen when the ball goes Cooper's way. Cool things seem to happen, too. Cooper's contact balance and ball skills lead to exciting, and explosive, plays. He is a tough runner with burst, and it feels like the first tackler never brings him down. There is some rigidness with his movement, but he is a strong player who can keep his feet going and find ways to create a few yards with the ball in his hands. His hand-eye coordination is also an asset and makes him a valid weapon in the red zone and in contested situations. He primarily worked from the slot, but has some strong reps on the outside. He at the very least looks like he can be a strong inside option that can moonlight on the outside, too. He's almost like a premium version of Khalil Shakir. —NT

40. Keionte Scott, CB, Miami

Scott is an older prospect, who will be 25 at the start of his rookie year. He has the playmaking ability to immediately be a weapon in the secondary. Scott really made his presence felt during the Hurricanes' run through the playoffs en route to the national championship. As an older slot defender, maybe this is a bit high for him, but the ability to win in multiple ways and get his hands on the ball as an aggressor in the secondary will be key for Scott as he enters the pros. —CM

41. Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

Age (he will be 25 on draft day) and medicals are going to be Mesidor's big hang-ups. But, man, he can rush the passer and is relentless in doing so. Mesidor can vary his pass rush moves and has shows the ability to win with an arsenal of moves or with power. He doesn't have overwhelming length, but can get his hands inside to drive blockers back. He also has aligned across the defensive line over his college career, opening up positional versatility for sub packages at the next level. Mesidor looks like he can be a good secondary pass rusher for a team that plays with relentless energy. But he might be maxed out as a player, too. —NT

42. Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt was on the national stage this past season and it might have a highly drafted prospect in Stowers this year. He is one of the most athletic pass catchers in this draft class. Stowers set a record for TEs with a 45.5-inch vertical leap at the combine and he continued his strong workout with a 4.51 40-yard dash. The athleticism transfers to the field as well, giving proof of concept that he's not just a workout warrior. —CM

43. Emmanuel Pregnon, IOL, Oregon

Pregnon is not the flashiest guard out there, but he gets the job done. The former Wyoming and USC transfer was a mainstay in Oregon's offense last season and should be a capable starter at the next level. He has some leverage issues to fix, but a potential starting guard is going to get drafted highly in this class. He's probably going to be best in a gap scheme that utilizes his ability to be explosive in short areas. —CM

44. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

Smooth. That's the best way to describe Johnson. An easy mover who can mirror wide receivers without getting too handsy. Johnson has the athleticism and balance to play in man coverage, but he also has the awareness and eyes to be a valid zone corner with real ball skills to take advantage of his positioning. He's a competitive player who is willing to take on blockers and is more than willing to stick his nose in to make the tackle. Overall, Johnson is a riser and looks like a good outside starting corner at the next level. —NT

45. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State

Another Penn State edge dominated the scouting combine — stop me if you've heard this before. Dennis-Sutton, a long-time contributor for the Nittany Lions' defense over the years, cemented his status as at least a Day 2 pick by having an outrageous workout relative to his size. Dennis-Sutton had nearly a 40-inch vertical leap and was an inch away from 11 feet on the broad jump. He cemented himself as one of the most explosive players in this draft class and has a solid all-around game to give him credence beyond the athletic results. —CM

46. Connor Lew, IOL, Auburn

Lew was a tough player for Auburn's offense and he has a chance to be a high-floor interior starter on an NFL team that needs offensive line help. Lew unfortunately tore his ACL in October, but he did put up enough solid tape beforehand to possibly end up as a Day 2 pick in April. —CM

47. Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

Orange is a sturdy body in the middle but will surprise blockers with his quickness and violence right after the snap. Orange will get into the backfield and disrupt plays, but doesn't have a lot of production to speak of. Some of that is because of how Iowa State plays defense, but some of that is also Orange's lack of consistency in capitalizing on his instant wins. He also shows real effort in trying to run after the quarterback and ball carriers down the field on things like draws and screens. I do think there's something here with his length, quickness, and play strength to both eat blocks and get into the backfield. His passing down role is still limited right now, but he is valid on defensive loops and twists to stay on the field on late downs. Overall, I like Orange's combination of length, violence, and quickness that speaks more than what his college career production pointed to. —NT

48. Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Cisse needs to improve in his route recognition on the outside as he will yield too much space and have to use his explosiveness to recover. And he needs to clean up his hand usage (he can be a bad combination of grabby but not disruptive). But it's that explosiveness and twitch, with solid size, that makes you think he can help outsomewhere, whether it's on the outside or with a move into the slot, or perhaps just to actual safety. —NT

49. D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana

Ponds is just a football player. He lacks size, but he's explosive, intelligent, and tenacious, a combination that lets him play bigger than his size and impact games constantly. I understand if there's a cap on how high he ends up going, but Ponds could stick on the outside in a zone-heavy system because of his explosiveness and ball skills. Or he could end up being a slot dynamo because of his toughness, awareness, and competitiveness. This is just a player you like having on your football team. —NT

50. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

Howell is a bit more of an idea than a solidified edge prospect who should be starting early in his NFL career. He was fast at the scouting combine, but had some poor scores in the jumps that highlight a concern with him as a player: the ability to be stout and explosive at the point of attack, and not sacrifice the integrity of the defense. This is a player who feels like the ultimate boom-bust defensive lineman in this year's class. —CM

2026 NFL Draft combined big board: No. 1 overall prospect is a Big Ten star — just not Fernando Mendoza

We're inside of a month until the2026 NFL Draft.Both of Yahoo Sports' NFL Draft experts, Nate Tice and Charles M...
Robot umpires are coming to MLB. Here's how they work

NEW YORK (AP) —Robot umpiresare coming to the big leagues this year.

Associated Press

The Automated Ball/Strike System will be introduced in the form of a challenge system in which the human umpire makes each call, which can be appealed tothe computer. Robot umpires have been tested in the minor leagues since 2019, with recent testing done at Triple-A since 2022, MLB spring training last year and at the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

Here's what to know about MLB's robot umps.

How does the Automated Ball-Strike System work?

Stadiums are outfitted with cameras that track each pitch and judge whether it crossed home plate within the strike zone. In early testing, umpires wore ear buds and would hear "ball" or "strike," then relay that to players and fans with traditional hand signals.

The challenge system adds a wrinkle. Human umps call every pitch, but each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. Teams that waste their challenges get one additional challenge in each extra inning. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for big league teams with video reviews, which were first used for home run calls in August 2008 andwidely expanded to many calls for the 2014 season.

Only a batter, pitcher or catcher may challenge a call, signaling with the tap of a helmet or cap; and assistance from the dugout is not allowed. A challenge must be made within 2 seconds, and the graphic of the pitch and strike zone is shown on the scoreboard and broadcast feed. The umpire then announces the updated count.

Challenges during spring training last year averaged 13.8 seconds.

What is the technology?

A Hawk-Eye pose-tracking system of cameras tracks pitches and whether they are within a strike zone based on the height of each batter, who is measured without shoes. Each player will be measured for his strike zone starting at 10 a.m. to noon on a rolling basis during spring training — the time of day to maintain uniformity, becauseheight shortens later in the day. Data will be verified by the Southwest Research Institute. MLB estimated the calibration process at less than one minute for each player.

While the strike zone actually called by big league umpires tends to be oval in shape, the ABS strike zone is a rectangle, as in the rule book.

Developing a consensus on what a computer strike zonewas an issue.

So what is the MLB strike zone?

MLB has changed the shape of the ABS strike zone several times.

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It started with a 19-inch width in 2022, then dropped it to 17 inches — matching the width of home plate. Narrowing the strike zone led to an increase in walks and only small changes in strikeout rates.

The top of the strike zone was 51% of a batter's height in 2022 and 2023, then raised to 53.5% in 2024 after pitchers complained. The bottom of the strike zone has been 27% since 2022 after initially being set at 28%. A batter's stance is not taken into account.

ABS makes the ball/strike decision at the midpoint of the plate, 8 1/2 inches from the front and 8 1/2 inches from the back. The contrasts with the rule book zone called by umpires, which says the zone is a cube and a strike is a pitch that crosses any part. Big league umpires call roughly 94% of pitches correctly, according to UmpScorecards.

Where has ABS been tested?

ABS, which utilizes Hawk-Eye cameras, has been tested in the minor leagues since 2019. The independent Atlantic Leaguetrialed the systemat its 2019 All-Star Game and MLB installed the technology for that's yearArizona Fall League of top prospects. The ABS was tried ateight of nine ballparks of the Low-A Southeast League in 2021, thenmoved up to Triple-A in 2022.

At Triple-A at the start of the 2023 season, half the games used the robots for ball/strike calls and half had a human making decisionssubject to appealsby teams to the ABS.

MLB switched Triple-A to an all-challenge system on June 26, 2024, then used the challenge system last year at13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teamsfor a total of 288 exhibition games. Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges (617 of 1,182) challenges.

At last year's MLBAll-Star Game, four of five challenges of plate umpire Dan Iassogna's calls were successful.

How successful are teams at challenging?

Success rate have hovered around 50% in the minors. At Triple-A last season, the success rate dropped to 49.5% from 50.6%. Defenses — usually catchers — have been more successful, winning 53.7% of challenges compared to 45% by batters. Challenges increased to 4.2 from 3.9 per game.

In 2024 at Triple-A, just 1.6% of first pitches were challenged, but the figure increased to 3.9% for two-strike pitches, 5.2% for three-ball pitches and 8.2% for full counts.

Challenge percentages were higher later in the game. While 1.9% of pitches were challenged in the first three innings, 2.5% were challenged from the fourth through the sixth, 2.8% in the seventh and eighth and 3.6% in the ninth.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Robot umpires are coming to MLB. Here’s how they work

NEW YORK (AP) —Robot umpiresare coming to the big leagues this year. The Automated Ball/Strike System will b...
Captain Jason Chambers BDDU

Welcome back,Below Deck Down Underfans!Last week, Jenna fully moved on from Eddy.  Likewise, Mike moved on from his tasks, even when they weren't fully finished (or even started, really). Likewise, Ben's oven was still on ice. So, what better time for a four-day charter, complete with a vow renewal, to come aboard? Here's what happened on BDDU Season 4 Episode 8.

What happened in Below Deck Down Under Season 4 Episode 8?

Jenna makes a cleaning-related mistake at the start of the charter, which isn't a great first impression for their guests. Downstairs, the pressure is on in the galley. Ben feels it, as does Ellie. But when Ben keeps calling Ellie everything but her actual name,Ellie finally snaps, and now, Captain Jason has no choice but to intervene.

Ellie feels disrespected

BDDU

Jenna is drunk, but her words are clear. She shuts Eddy down as an unbothered Betual takes a nap at her side. When their sprinter van finally pulls up to the yacht,João kisses Daisy's handwhile helping her exit. He later texts Daisy, asking if she wants to join him for a glass of wine.

But Daisy is far too tired. Outside, a tipsy Eddy lies by the hot tub, hoping others join him. Sadly for him, everyone heads to their cabins, minus Jenna and Ben.

Eddy finally gives up, but then he spots Jenna and Ben getting cozy. Eddy finally gets it. He "fucked up." So did Daisy, since Ellie has just joined João for that glass of wine.

But Ellie only wants advice. Ben keeps calling her "honey" and "baby" instead of Ellie. "Tell him you don't like it," João suggests.

In the morning, Ben leaves Ellie to the cleaning while he takes a dip in the ocean. Ellie is frustrated, which Daisy validates, right as their new oven finally arrives. Soon, so will their next group of guests, who are staying onboard for four long days.

They're from Tampa, my hometown. PLEASE, don't let them suck … But, luckily for us all, Clay and Mark are delightful. And they will also renew their vows during their charter.

"Pussy liners" and a medical emergency

BDDU

Ben and Elliehave a sit-down. Ellie, trying to control Ben's emotions, only airs one of her grievances. She is tired of working alone while he does as he pleases. Ben apologizes.

João and Daisy talk about their post-charter plans. As they flirt, João admits that he has never dated an Irish girl, while Daisy admits that she pretty much only likes "dickheads." Their smiles, however, say more than their words. They are totally into each other.

But Alesia is not into turning over her assigned cabin. Instead, she gets distracted folding towels. The guests board, but once the yacht comes off the dock, guest Neshea spots a "pussy liner" stuck to the inside of her cabinet, which Jenna somehow missed.

Down below, Ben says his millionth "sweetie pie," and now, Ellie is ready to blow. Outside, guest Christina twerks on a platform that's attached to the yacht. Eddy offers her his hand when she tries to climb back on the deck, but Christina says, "No." She then slips and hits her head.

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Captain Jason checks Christina out and gives her a bag of ice. All is luckily well.

Mike and Alesia argue

BDDU

Tonight is Pride Night-themed. The guests look fabulous. But in the galley, Ben is still calling Ellie everything but her actual name. Nevertheless, everything goes off without a noticeable hitch.

The next morning, Mike asks Ben for an omelet. Alesia pulls Mike aside, warning him to never ask Ben for anything during this extended charter. Cool. That makes two women trying to manage Ben's emotions this week.

But then,gossiping Mike reemerges. He angrily walks right back into the galley, telling Ben everything Alesia said. Mike next pops off on Alesia for telling him how to act, but as Ben realizes and explains to Mike, "She was helping."

Alesia vents to Daisy. Daisy, like Ben, is also on her side. "Next time, come to me," Daisy instructs. Daisy finds Mike, who explains that Alesia used a mean tone, which, nope, but since Daisy was not there, all she can do is reiterate what Alesia said, which is, "Don't ask the chef for anything."

Co-primary Marc shares his coming-out story with Betual. In her homeland, "Gay marriage is not legal." She is so thankful for yachting, which "educated" her. I love Betual, and so does Marc.

Ellie angrily seeks out Captain Jason

Captain Jason Chambers

The guests are running low on toilet paper. In his talking head, Mike blames Alesia. But Daisy blames her stews equally.

In the galley, Ellie tells Ben to "take a little breather." He is far too worked up, she thinks. But "dinner is in half an hour," so, no, Ben answers. Ellie sighs, and then she tells Ben that he needs to speak to her in a more professional way.

"I'm never gonna have that again," Ellie argues. Ben asks, "How didI speak to you, honey?" And then Ellie let's loose, letting Ben know that she has had it with all of his little pet names. They continue arguing about everything under the sun as their guests sit for dinner.

"I'm gonna go to the Captain. I don't give a f*ck," Ellie says. She then angrily stalks around the yacht, right in front of their guests, until she finds him. "Captain, what just happened in the galley is unacceptable," she says, as the credits roll on another episode of BDDU.

Below Deck Down Underis streaming on Peacock. BDDU airs on Mondays at 8/7c on Bravo.

TELL US – DID YOU WATCH BELOW DECK DOWN UNDER SEASON 4 EPISODE 8? WHO IS IN THE WRONG, ELLIE OR BEN? SAME QUESTION, BUT ALESIA OR MIKE?

The postBelow Deck Down Under Season 4 Episode 8 Recap: Ellie Sees Redappeared first onReality Tea.

Below Deck Down Under Season 4 Episode 8 Recap: Ellie Sees Red

Welcome back,Below Deck Down Underfans!Last week, Jenna fully moved on from Eddy.  Likewise, Mike moved on from his tasks, even when they ...

 

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