Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson tie for the top wide receiver in a vote by AP writers By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Ja’Marr Chase achieved the receiving triple crown. Justin Jefferson has rewritten receiving records in his first five seasons.
So which superstar pass-catcher is the best wide receiver in the NFL?
It’s a tie, according to a panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers who ranked the top five players at the position, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Chase and Jefferson each received four first-place votes and four seconds.
Amon-Ra St. Brown finished third, CeeDee Lamb was fourth and AJ Brown placed fifth. Tyreek Hill, Garrett Wilson, Terry McLaurin and Mike Evans also received votes.
1 (tie). JA’MARR CHASE, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase led the league in receptions (127), yards receiving (1,708) and touchdown catches (17) last season, becoming just the sixth wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to win the receiving triple crown.
He was a unanimous All-Pro selection and teamed with Tee Higgins to give quarterback Joe Burrow two dynamic playmakers.
1 (tie). JUSTIN JEFFERSON, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson had 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, also earning a unanimous All-Pro selection.
Jefferson is the first player in NFL history with more than 7,000 receiving yards in just five seasons. He set records for most receptions by any player in their first three NFL seasons and most yards in first three, four and five seasons.
3. AMON-RA ST. BROWN, Detroit Lions
Brown has three straight seasons of more than 100 receptions and more than 1,100 yards receiving.
He followed up an All-Pro season in 2023 with another one in 2024, finishing with 115 catches for 1,263 yards and 12 TDs.
Brown received three third-place votes, one fourth and three fifths.
4. CEEDEE LAMB, Dallas Cowboys
A four-time Pro Bowl pick and 2023 All-Pro, Lamb has put up prolific numbers in his first five seasons.
Lamb had 101 catches for 1,194 yards and six TDs last year, his third straight surpassing 100/1,100. Lamb holds the Cowboys’ single-season records for both receptions (135) and receiving yards (1,749), both set in 2023 when he also set an NFL record with three straight games of 10 receptions and 150 yards receiving.
He received two third-place votes and four fourths.
5. A.J. BROWN, Philadelphia Eagles
Brown has become one of the league’s elite playmakers since joining Philadelphia in 2022.
He had 67 catches for 1,079 yards and seven TDs in 13 games last season and played a big role in the offense for the Super Bowl champions.
The three-time Pro Bowl pick had more than 1,400 yards receiving in each of his first two seasons with the Eagles.
Brown got two third-place votes and three fifths.
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Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II voted NFL's top cornerback by AP By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Patrick Surtain II became only the seventh cornerback to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, doing so last season.
His shutdown season also helped him earn the top cornerback spot in voting by a panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers who ranked the top five players at the position, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Surtain received five first-place votes and three seconds. Sauce Gardner got two first-place votes, finishing second. Cooper DeJean got the other first-place vote, appearing on only one of eight ballots.
Derek Stingley Jr. finished third, Trent McDuffie was fourth and DeJean placed fifth.
Jaylon Johnson, Marlon Humphrey, Charvarius Ward and DJ Reed also received votes.
1. PATRICK SURTAIN II, Denver Broncos
Surtain had an outstanding season, allowing just 37 receptions and recording four interceptions to earn All-Pro honors.
Opposing quarterbacks had a 61.1 passer rating when targeting Surtain, who became just the second Broncos player to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year award.
He received three second-place votes along with the five firsts.
2. SAUCE GARDNER, New York Jets
After earning All-Pro honors his first two seasons in the NFL, Gardner had a down year by his standards. Still, he appeared on seven ballots to finish behind Surtain.
Gardner has forced a league-high 46 incompletions and allowed a league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap since his rookie season.
3. DEREK STINGLEY JR., Houston Texans
Stingley was a first-time All-Pro last season, emerging as one of the NFL’s best cover cornerbacks.
Selected one spot ahead of Gardner at No. 3 overall in the 2022 draft, Stingley had a breakout season last year. He had five interceptions and gave up 40 catches for 382 yards and four TDs.
Stingley got three second-place votes and five fourths.
4. TRENT MCDUFFIE, Kansas City Chiefs
McDuffie earned All-Pro honors as a slot cornerback in 2023 and was second-team All-Pro after moving back outside last season.
While the Chiefs don’t use McDuffie to shadow opposing receivers, he is an elite cover guy.
McDuffie allowed 54 catches for 545 yards and four TDs in 2024.
He received one second-place vote, two thirds, one fourth and four fifth.
5. COOPER DEJEAN, Philadelphia Eagles
DeJean’s first career interception was a pick-6 against Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, helping the Eagles dominate the Chiefs in a 40-22 victory.
A second-round pick in 2024, DeJean was a super slot cornerback for Philadelphia. He didn’t allow a TD on 97 targets.
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Jets make Sauce Gardner the NFL's highest-paid cornerback with a $120.4M extension, AP source says By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer The Associated Press NEW YORK
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets are making Sauce Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
The Jets and Gardner agreed on a four-year, $120.4 million extension through the 2030 season, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement had not been announced.
Gardner took to social media to report "THE DEAL IS DONE" and thank his agents for making that happen.
“This only the beginning,” Gardner posted . “I appreciate the Jets organization for believing in me, my teammates for the blood, sweat (and) tears we put in.”
The contract paying the two-time All-Pro an average of $30.1 million a year comes a day after the Jets agreed to a lucrative extension with top wide receiver Garrett Wilson . That deal with Wilson is worth $130 million, as the organization locked up two foundational players for the long-term future.
Gardner, who turns 25 before Week 1, was the No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft out of Cincinnati. He established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks during his first two professional seasons, including being selected the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year .
After a down year by his standards, he is out to prove naysayers wrong , saying he has always felt like an underdog. Gardner opted to participate in mandatory minicamp rather than hold out to try to push for a new deal.
After recently declining to say whether he wanted to be the richest player at the position, Gardner now has that distinction.
“Man, I just wanted to show my teammates, show the coaches how much I’m bought into this,” Gardner said. “I want to win. I want to change the organization. I want to be a part of changing the organization.”
The Jets have the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, dating to a trip to the AFC championship game in the 2010 season. The organization hopes the new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn — himself a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback in his playing days — can lead a successful turnaround.
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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report.
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Chiefs beat franchise tag deadline, sign guard Trey Smith to a 4-year, $94M deal, AP source says By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer The Associated Press
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the deadline to sign franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith to a multiyear contract, agreeing to terms Tuesday on a $94 million deal, a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press.
The four-year contract includes $70 million guaranteed, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been announced.
Smith, 26, now has the highest average salary of any player at his position in the NFL at $23.5 million annually.
The Chiefs had until 4 p.m. EDT Tuesday to work out a deal beyond this season after giving Smith the franchise tag in March. Smith and franchised Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins each got a lucrative contract , though the agreements came roughly four months apart.
Smith has been a key part of the offensive line protecting two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes since entering the league in 2021 as a sixth-round draft pick out of Tennessee. Smith has started 67 regular-season and 13 playoff games, helping Kansas City win the Super Bowl twice and getting there last season before losing to Philadelphia.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
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McLaurin casts doubt on attending Commanders training camp given lack of progress on a new contract By BEN STANDIG Associated Press The Associated Press LAUREL, Md.
LAUREL, Md. (AP) — A week before veterans arrive for Washington Commanders training camp, top wide receiver Terry McLaurin did not commit to practicing with the rest of the team, expressing frustration over a lack of progress toward a new contract.
McLaurin said Tuesday after taping a local television commercial he wants “things to work out ... but at the end of the day, it takes two to tango.”
“I don’t know what happens next,” McLaurin said. “But without any progressive discussions, it’s kind of hard to see how I step on the field.”
What happens next, starting with his attendance at training camp or seeking a trade, is unclear. Instead of building on a dynamic passing connection with Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels, McLaurin skipped mandatory minicamp and some voluntary workouts this spring.
“I’ve been pretty frustrated — I’m not gonna lie,” McLaurin said in his first expansive comments on the contract talks, which became a 30-minute discussion with reporters. “Everything that has transpired to this point has been disappointing and frustrating. I’ve wanted to continue my career here. I’ve created my life here.”
McLaurin, who turns 30 in September, signed a three-year, $68.2 million extension in 2022 under the Commanders’ previous regime. His $23.2 million average annual salary ranks 17th among active wide receivers after the New York Jets agreed with Garrett Wilson on a four-year, $130 million extension Monday. McLaurin’s 2025 base salary is $15.5 million.
He had a career-high 13 touchdowns last season, his fifth in a row surpassing 1,000 yards receiving, on 82 receptions. McLaurin added another three touchdowns and 227 yards on 14 catches in three playoff games as Washington reached the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991.
Instead of that success leading to smooth extension talks, McLaurin said his camp has not heard from the front office in the past month. McLaurin, a 2019 third-round pick out of Ohio State, said his status for training camp and future with the organization are “up in the air.”
That is a twist for someone who had been a face of the franchise before Daniels' arrival, producing on teams with a rotating cast of suspect QBs. That changed last season as the Commanders won 12 regular-season games with Daniels running the offense.
Only Daniels rivals McLaurin’s popularity among fans and for his locker room leadership.
“I understand that everything is a business, but at the same time, I want to put myself in a position where I’m valued and I feel appreciated and things like that,” McLaurin said. “Unfortunately, that hasn’t transpired the way I wanted it to.”
The Commanders have remained quiet during the protracted negotiations beyond general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn expressing a desire to keep McLaurin around for a long time.
While Wilson is on the verge of 25, McLaurin's primary comparison may be closer to fellow 2019 draft pick D.K. Metcalf, who is two years younger and signed a $132 million extension with Pittsburgh following an offseason trade from Seattle.
“I think how the market is today, I think it pretty much conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of," McLaurin said. "I feel like I fit in that box because of how I’ve always carried myself on and off the field and the value I know I bring to a team.”
The topic of age befuddles McLaurin, who has not missed a game since 2020. He noted that he wasn’t a full-time player until deep into his Ohio State career and that this will only be his seventh NFL season.
“I’m not dismissing (age) completely,” McLaurin said. “There are data points to support that, but how come it’s not OK to say this may be a different case, and based on what he’s proven, showing no signs of deterioration? I feel that should be acknowledged, as well.”
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Texas Tech hoping big money and top transfers lead to unprecedented payback in football By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Sports Writer The Associated Press FRISCO, Texas
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire had already completed his portion of Big 12 football media days when Colorado's Deion Sanders was asked if he has been paying attention to what the Red Raiders did in the transfer portal.
The gist of that question was really about all the money for Texas Tech athletes, which is widely reported to be around $55 million for the upcoming school year. A significant chunk of that is expected to go toward the transformation of a football program that has never won a Big 12 title or even had a 10-win season since 2008, six years before three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes played his first game for the Red Raiders.
“Yeah, Joey got some money. Joey, where you at, baby? Spending that money, I love it,” Sanders said emphatically about the fellow Big 12 coach he calls a friend, and who coached two of his three sons in high school. “I love you, man. I appreciate you. Can you send a few of those dollars to us so we can get some of those players too?”
The reported dollar figures are staggering, even in these early days of schools being able to pay athletes directly. That total supposedly includes the maximum $20.5 million of revenue each school can share with players under the NCAA's landmark House settlement that took effect this month, meaning the rest would come through name, image and likeness deals.
Red Raiders spending big
Last fall, Texas Tech said it was budgeting $14.7 million for the fiscal year — about $9 million more than the previous year — in support for the athletic program, which had a budget of nearly $129 million. The headlines started to come soon after.
Tech’s softball team had never won a Big 12 regular-season or tournament championship before standout pitcher NiJaree Canady arrived last year in Lubbock with a NIL deal that made her the first $1 million softball player.
With Canady, who had been to the previous two Women’s College World Series with Stanford, the Red Raiders won both of those league titles and got all the way to the final game of this year’s WCWS before losing to rival Texas .
Canady has already signed a similar NIL deal for next season . Tech also added three top transfers: Florida second baseman Mia Williams; two-time 20-game winner Kaitlyn Terry from UCLA; and Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Jackie Lis, an infielder from Southern Illinois.
Along with all the money spent on players, Texas Tech this spring unveiled a $240 million football complex at Jones AT&T Stadium, where Cody Campbell Field is named after the former offensive lineman who made a $25 million donation to the project.
Campbell’s financial impact on the program goes well beyond that. He is chairman of the school’s Board of Regents, a billionaire who with his oil and gas partner John Sellers co-founded The Matador Club, the school’s NIL collective that is now under the umbrella of the athletic department’s Red Raider Club. Sellers and Campbell earlier this year sold some subsidies of an oil and natural gas company for about $4 billion.
Last week, Campbell announced the launch of a nonprofit called Saving College Sports to help solve a “crisis" as the industry “faces an existential turning point as legal, governance and economic challenges threaten” hundreds of thousands of athletes, fandom and the economies of campus communities.
On the gridiron
The Texas Tech men's basketball program has four Sweet 16 appearances since 2018, including a run to the national title game in 2019. But the big moneymaker for all programs is football and the Red Raiders will find out this fall if a big financial commitment to those players will get them into the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Texas Tech brought in 22 football transfers in what many consider a top national portal class. Most are highly touted players, with about half expected to be starters and most of the others impact players on a team already with several key returners after going 8-5 last year in McGuire's third season.
“Yeah, it’s been a fun offseason," McGuire said before Sanders took the podium. “We were really aggressive whenever it came to the portal and meeting some of our needs for the football team. ... I think this conference is really strong. There’s a lot of teams that have some big opportunities this year to really make a statement, and we’re planning on being one of them.”
With the amount of money involved, some front-loaded NIL deals before the House settlement with new guidelines went into effect, it will certainly be a huge and expensive disappointment if they are not.
“I understand how important this year is,” McGuire said. "We’ve got to have a lot of things go right, but everybody does. You’ve got to keep your quarterback healthy. You’ve got to play at a high level. I know there’s a lot of expectations. My job that I’m going to really try to do is keep the pressure on me and the coaches.”
Tech returns senior quarterback Behren Morton, who threw for 2,976 yards and 25 touchdowns last season, and senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, the league's top tackler with 126 last year. Rodriguez is the preseason Big 12 defensive player of the year , and on the league's preseason team with a pair of four-star transfers: edge rusher David Bailey (Stanford) and defensive lineman Lee Hunter (UCF).
“It’s unbelievable, those guys came in and bought in to what we were talking about,” Rodriguez said. "I love those guys to death already and I think they’re going to make my job a lot easier, especially with the guys we have up front.”
It will also be up to McGuire to deal with paid players, some making significantly more than others on the roster.
“I think that goes into your culture,” the former Texas high school coach said. “It’s real. It’s real money. Guys are making different amounts of money in the locker room.
“One thing that you better understand if you dream to play in the NFL, your contract’s not going to be the same as the guy next to you, and if that’s what you focus on, then you’re going to spend a lot of time wasting a lot of energy,” McGuire said. “If guys want to increase that, focus on what you can control. That’s your game and how hard you’re practicing and how hard you’re playing.”
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AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon contributed.
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Fred Warner is voted the top off-ball linebacker in the NFL by AP writers By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Whether it's stopping the run game, dropping into pass coverage or even rushing the quarterback, Fred Warner thrives for the San Francisco 49ers.
Warner's strong all-around play for San Francisco helped him win the honor of being voted the top off-ball linebacker in the league by The Associated Press.
A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at off-ball linebacker, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Warner got seven of the eight first-place votes to go with one second to win the voting easily. Three other players were selected on all eight ballots, with Baltimore's Roquan Smith getting the other first-place vote to come in second, Philadelphia’s Zack Baun finishing third and Washington's Bobby Wagner coming in fourth.
Indianapolis' Zaire Franklin rounded out the top five.
New Orleans' Demario Davis, Denver's Dre Greenlaw, Minnesota's Blake Cashman and Pittsburgh's Patrick Queen also received votes.
1. FRED WARNER, San Francisco 49ers
Despite playing most of last season with a broken bone in his ankle, Warner still performed at a high level and earned his third straight and fourth overall first-team All-Pro honor. Warner had 131 tackles, five tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven passes defensed and four forced fumbles last season. Warner has 10 sacks, 10 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 36 tackles for loss and 53 passes defensed in his first seven seasons.
He is one of three active players with at least 10 sacks, interceptions and forced fumbles, along with Minnesota safety Harrison Smith and Tampa Bay linebacker Lavonte David.
2. ROQUAN SMITH, Baltimore Ravens
The midseason trade in 2022 that sent Smith from Chicago to Baltimore helped lift the Ravens' defense by solidifying the middle of the field. In 41 games with Baltimore, Smith has 398 tackles, five sacks, three interceptions and 15 passes defensed as he has earned first-team All-Pro honors the past three seasons.
3. ZACK BAUN, Philadelphia Eagles
After struggling to get on the field on defense as an edge rusher his first four seasons in New Orleans, Baun was a revelation at linebacker in his first year with the Eagles. He had 151 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks and one interception in the regular season and also had a pick against Patrick Mahomes in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win. Baun earned All-Pro honors, finished fifth in voting for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award and cashed in with a three-year, $51 million deal in the offseason.
4. BOBBY WAGNER, Washington Commanders
Coach Dan Quinn brought his former linebacker from Seattle to Washington in his first season as coach of the Commanders for veteran leadership. Wagner, who turned 35 last month, showed he can still perform at a high level. Wagner had his 13th straight season with at least 100 tackles and earned his fifth second-team All-Pro selection to go along with six first-team picks. Only Reggie White (13) and Jim Otto (12) have been picked as a first or second-team All-Pro more than Wagner.
5. ZAIRE FRANKLIN, Indianapolis Colts
Franklin led the NFL with 173 tackles last season, becoming the second player since at least 2000 with three straight seasons with at least 165 tackles. His 518 tackles in three seasons since becoming a full-time starter in 2022 are the most in the NFL in that span.
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Saquon Barkley is selected as top running back by the AP after a record-setting season By JOSH DUBOW AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
Saquon Barkley's first season in Philadelphia featured record performances on the field , a Super Bowl title and a new contract that is the richest ever for a running back.
Barkley's performance with the Eagles also helped him score the honor of being voted the top running back in the league by The Associated Press.
A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at running back, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Barkley got seven first-place votes and one second to win the voting easily. Baltimore's Derrick Henry was the only other player selected on all eight ballots and came in second with one first-place vote, five seconds, one third and one fifth.
Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs got the remaining two second-place votes and finished third. Atlanta's Bijan Robinson and San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey rounded out the top five.
Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor, Green Bay's Josh Jacobs and Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving also received votes.
1. SAQUON BARKLEY, Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in the regular season, falling 101 short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s regular-season record because he was rested rather than playing in a meaningless Week 18 game. His 2,504 yards rushing including the playoffs broke Terrell Davis’ record of 2,476 and featured a record seven TD runs of at least 60 yards.
Barkley parlayed that into a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million with $36 million guaranteed, which is the richest ever for a running back.
2. DERRICK HENRY, Baltimore Ravens
Anyone expecting Henry to drop off in his 30s was disappointed last season when a move to Baltimore helped spark a resurgence to his career. Henry, who turned 31 in January, rushed for 1,921 yards last season for the most ever for a player after turning 30, topping the 1,860 yards Tiki Barber had at age 30 in 2005.
Henry has the 11th-most yards ever in a season and the most for a player who didn't win a rushing title as he remains one of the best pure rushers in the game.
3. JAHMYR GIBBS, Detroit Lions
Skeptics questioned the decision by Detroit to draft Gibbs 12th overall in 2023, but he has more than delivered in his first two seasons as a dangerous runner and receiver. After a strong rookie season, Gibbs took a big step last season when he rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 TDs to go with 517 yards receiving and four more scores.
Gibbs' 36 overall touchdowns in the regular season and playoffs are the second most ever for a player in his first two seasons, trailing only the 37 for Hall of Famer Curtis Martin.
4. BIJAN ROBINSON, Atlanta Falcons
Picked eighth overall in 2023, Robinson has quickly earned his place among the top running backs in the league thanks to his skill as a runner and receiver.
Robinson ranked fourth among running backs last season in yards from scrimmage (1,887), tied for sixth in touchdowns (15) and second in first downs (102).
5. CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY, San Francisco 49ers
Injuries to his Achilles tendon and knee hampered McCaffrey last season as he played only four games after winning AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2023. But when he's healthy, there are few players more productive than McCaffrey, as evidenced by his 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 TDs in 16 games in 2023.
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SEC media days: LSU, South Carolina, Ole Miss quarterbacks in spotlight By MAURA CAREY AP Sports Writer The Associated Press ATLANTA
ATLANTA (AP) — The opening day of SEC football media days Monday featured LSU, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. The Commodores have Diego Pavia at quarterback going into his second season and the other three also have signal-callers entering pivotal seasons:
Will Garrett Nussmeier take the Year 2 LSU leap?
LSU quarterbacks have a history of taking an impressive jump from year one to two. Before spearheading two of the NFL’s most dominant offenses, Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow came into their own during their second seasons in Baton Rouge. Is it Nussmeier’s turnn?
Nussmeier finished the 2024 season with a 64.2 completion percentage and 4,052 passing yards for 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Limiting turnovers is a big point of emphasis for Nussmeier approaching his final season at LSU.
“There's no hiding from turnovers,” Nussmeier said. “As an anticipation player, there's going to be some interceptions. The ones I need to eliminate are the ones that don't need to happen, the ones where I'm trying to do too much, the ones where I'm trying to make a play when I don't need to.”
Nussmeier understands the stakes are high, especially given the history of year two success for Burrow and Daniels. More than ever, he's motivated to create his own legacy.
“Obviously with the track record that LSU quarterbacks have in the past, it's not a thing of disrespect. I have a lot of respect for Jayden, a lot of respect for Joe and what they were able to accomplish in their second years, and also respectively in their first years. But as I said before, I'm me,” Nussmeier said. “I'm worried about improving myself, being the best I can be to lead us where we want to go.”
The season opener is Aug. 30 at Clemson.
High hopes for LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina
South Carolina went 9-4 in 2024, the program’s first nine-win season under coach Shane Beamer and just its second since 2013. The Gamecocks will have to replace most of their starting defense, but unlike plenty of SEC teams, they won’t have to worry about turnover at quarterback.
Redshirt sophomore Sellers returns after a breakout season, accounting for 3,208 yards and 25 total touchdowns, saving his best play for the end of the season with 16 total touchdowns and only three interceptions in November.
“I think we’re going to be better around LaNorris as well on the offense,” Beamer said. “(We have) more depth and competition at pretty much every position, I feel like that’s going to help him. He doesn’t have to be Superman for us.”
South Carolina closed the regular season with five consecutive wins, and lost two games by a total of five points against LSU and Alabama. The success down the stretch last season combined with Sellers’ return is the backbone of the optimism surrounding the Gamecocks and their chances of reaching the College Football Playoff after narrowly missing out last fall.
“We were four to five plays off,” Sellers said. “That showed us a little bit of success, and showed us that we can make the playoff and make a run for the trophy."
Ole Miss prepares for a massive change under center
Ole Miss has the challenge of replacing one the most successful signal-callers in program history. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels went 21-5 over the last two seasons with Jaxson Dart under center. Now the offense belongs in the hands of redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons.
Simmons appeared in nine games last season mostly late in blowouts, but he did lead one touchdown drive against Georgia when Dart briefly went out injured.
“I’m really just focusing on building my own legacy rather than just focusing on the past,” Simmons said.
Simmons is a total 180 from Dart. He was not a full-time football player until this year, also playing with Ole Miss baseball in the spring before transitioning to football full-time. He was a Kiffin recruit as opposed to Dart, who arrived in the transfer portal.
Kiffin isn't looking for another Dart.
“Austin has to make sure he doesn’t try to be Jaxson,” Kiffin said. “He’ll be fine. He’s got elite talent, does a great job, he’s maturing and did a great job when he came in in the Georgia game.”
Ole Miss went 10-3 last season, following an 11-2 mark in 2023. It was the first time Ole Miss has won double-digit games in consecutive seasons since 1959-60, and 2025 will be an opportunity to do so in three consecutive seasons for the first time.
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AP freelance writer Alan Cole contributed to this report.
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Jets and receiver Garrett Wilson agree on a 4-year, $130M contract extension, AP source says The Associated Press NEW YORK
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension, a person familiar with the situation said Monday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced.
Wilson, drafted 10th overall in 2022, was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three years — the first player in franchise history to do so.
In all, Wilson has caught 279 passes for 3,249 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The extension represents a significant commitment from general manager Darren Mougey and new coach Aaron Glenn, who have focused on making the roster younger in their first offseason together in New York.
They picked up the fifth-year options on Wilson, Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson during this past offseason, setting the stage for Wilson's new extension, which runs through the 2030 season.
“I’m hopeful I’m a Jet for life,” Wilson said in May. "And that we get this thing rolling and that all of our best days are ahead of us.”
Wilson had two years and $20.3 million remaining on his rookie deal. With the extension, he’s now under contract for six seasons at $150.3 million.
Next up for extensions could be Gardner and Johnson. Gardner has said earlier that negotiations between his representatives, which include agent AJ Vaynerchuk, and the Jets already have begun.
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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report.
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