Archive for the ‘Football’ Category

College Football Mid-Season All-American Team

Monday, October 24th, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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***These statistics were compiled prior to this past weekend’s games***

 

Offense

USP NCAA FOOTBALL: NORTH CAROLINA STATE AT LOUISVI S FBC USA KY

QB – Lamar Jackson, Louisville: Jackson is the most explosive player in the nation. Jackson is averaging 439.7 yards and five touchdowns per game. Coaches lose sleep at night prepping for him. Easiest choice on the list.

DC

RB – Dalvin Cook, Florida State: After a slow start Cook is really making teams pay on the ground. Cook averages 179.4 yards per game. Without a solid passing game, the Noles lean on their do it all back.

DPu

RB – Donnel Pumphrey, San Diego State: The nation’s leading rusher at the midpoint has played one less game while still averaging 185.2 yards per game and having 169 yards more than the next closest rusher.

JW

WR – James Washington, Oklahoma State: Washington racked up 296 yards’ vs Pitt early in the season is one of the most electric wide outs with the ball in his hands.

CDa

WR – Corey Davis, Western Michigan: Helping to guide his 7-0 Western Michigan team into the top 25, Davis has 44 catches for 652 yards and 10 TDs, which is tied for the most in the nation.

Mississippi tight end Evan Engram (17) carries as Oklahoma State safety Tre Flowers (31) tries to tackle in the first half of the Sugar Bowl college football game in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)

TE – Evan Engram, Ole Miss: Engram leads all tight ends with 590 receiving yards, and has caught five TDs. Going deep is what he does. Despite his team’s losses, he is Chad Kelly’s favorite and most consistent target.

NCAA Football: Cowboys Classic-Wisconsin vs Alabama

OL – Cam Robinson, Alabama: Anchoring the fourth ranked rushing attack in the nation, Robinson started slow but has built up steam. Roll Tide Roll.

DJ

OL – Dorian Johnson, Pitt: Johnson is the heart and soul of this line. Starting 33 straight games and helping the Panthers have the 2nd best rushing attack in the ACC.

PE

OL –  Pat Elflein, Ohio State: Elflein anchors an offensive line that is getting six yards per carry and 6.5 yards per catch on first downs, and they’re also second-best in fewest TFLs allowed.

EP

OL – Ethan Pocic, LSU: Pocic is Mr. Versatile for the Tigers, playing multiple positions and settling in at Right Tackle due to injury. Lot of love for the ultimate team player.

RR

OL – Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin: Emerging as one of the more athletic tackles in the nation after moving up from Division III UW-Stevens Point. Ramczyk is helping power a very good Badger running game.

 

 

 

 

 

Defense

MA

DL –  Montravious Adams, Auburn: Adams is playing as well or better than any interior lineman in the nation. The senior has four tackles for loss and his first defensive touchdown of his career.

DB

DL – Derek Barnett, Tennessee: Barnett is making his case louder each week for SEC player of the year. After introducing himself to the college football world against Appalachian State and has not looked back. Six sacks (all in SEC play), 11.5 TFLs, five QB hurries, three passes defended, one interception and two forced fumbles is just the appetizer in long season of hunting quarterbacks.

MG

DL – Myles Garrett, Texas A&M:  Four sacks, six tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Attacking Quarterbacks is what Garrett does.

Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Raekwon McMillan (5) slams into Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Shane Wynn (1) as Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Vonn Bell (11) tangles him up in the first quarter of the college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Saturday afternoon, November 22, 2014. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 42 - 27. (The Columbus Dispatch / Eamon Queeney)_

LB – Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State: The numbers don’t say it but ask anyone in Columbus who should get this spot. It’s not even close.

RFo

LB – Reuben Foster, Alabama: Leading the Crimson Tide defense with 41 Tackles. Taking over for Reggie Ragland and not even missing a beat. Roll Tide Roll.

BB

LB – Ben Boulware, Clemson: 59 Total Tackles, including four tackles for loss, a key interception in the win at Auburn, and had 17 tackles in the victory over Louisville. Couple that with a National Player of the Week selection, Boulware is the heartbeat of this defense and it will challenge anyone to say anything other than that.

MF

CB – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama: Ask Nick Saban and he will tell you that the secondary is having issues. Fitzpatrick should be the least of his worries. Totaling three INTs and five pass break ups, the former five-star corner is living up to the hype.

QW

CB – Quincy Wilson, Florida: Wilson has left the ducks and trucks in the rearview. Locking down the other side of the field for the Florida Gators defense, Wilson is making a case not only for best corner on his team but also to NFL Scouts in 2017.

JL

CB – Jourdan Lewis, Michigan: Injuries slowed Lewis down early but he has been the definition of a lockdown defender. According to PFF Lewis has only allowed 7 yards on 10 targets this season #NoFlyZone

JP

S – Jabrill Peppers, Michigan: Whether you list him as a LB, CB or S, Peppers does one thing and that’s make plays. This was a no brainer. Peppers has already tallied 10.5 TFLs. #HeismanHopeful.

MH

S – Malik Hooker, Ohio State: Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield is still having nightmares about Hooker. The Buckeyes defensive playmaker has four interceptions, totaling 117 return yards.

 

Special Teams

ZG

K – Zane Gonzalez, Arizona State: This is one easy. 19 of 20 on field goals and booming 3 of them from 50 plus yards.

 MW

P – Mitch Wishnowsky, Utah: The nation’s leader in yards per punt average at 49.1 yards is a weapon that makes the Utes defense very happy.

 CH

Ret: Carlos Henderson, Louisiana Tech: Is at the top of the college football world as a receiver but he is and even bigger threat as a return man averaging 26.3 yards per return.

 

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

Follow and Interact with Fred on social media @FPerdueSports

 

Spartans to Honor Former Punter

Saturday, September 24th, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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MSU

Michigan State will be set to honor former punter Mike Sadler during today’s game against Wisconsin by placing his jersey number inside the Spartans logo at midfield.

Sadler, who tragically died in a car crash this summer, was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday night prior to the contest.

Spartans players will also wear a No. 3 on their helmets to honor Sadler during the Big Ten matchup with the Badgers.

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

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Clemson recovers bizarre safety vs Georgia Tech

Saturday, September 24th, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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The saying is “When It Rains, It Pours”. For the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the rain came in droves as the Clemson Tigers dropped the hammer Thursday night. One score by the Tigers was bizarre as ever as they have become accustomed to crazy scores.

 

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

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Seminoles Lose Defensive End to Injury

Saturday, September 24th, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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JS

The Injury bug is hitting Florida State hard. The Noles will be without Josh Sweat versus South Florida today as he nurses a knee injury suffered against Louisville.

Jimbo Fisher told reporters Thursday that Sweat will be out one-to-two weeks after meniscus surgery on his left knee.

With Sweat on the sidelines, the Seminoles will likely rely on Jacob Pugh and Brian Burns to help slow the high-powered Bulls offense. Led by quarterback Quinton Flowers and a balanced rushing attack, South Florida is 3-0 on the season, outscoring their opponents by a combined 149-57.

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

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Longhorns OL Arrested on DWI Charge

Saturday, September 24th, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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KP

Texas Longhorns starting offensive lineman Kent Perkins was arrested early Friday morning for driving while intoxicated, Austin police have confirmed.

Online records show Perkins, a senior, was booked into Travis County Jail at 4:54 a.m local time.

Perkins came into the season with 24 career starts, and has added two more to his resume since, starting twice at right guard. He missed one game due to injury, but has otherwise been a strong contributor on an offensive line that boasts a strong rushing attack.

The Longhorns are on a bye this week, but will travel to Oklahoma State for their first conference matchup on Oct. 1.

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

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Wisconsin Badgers to Start Redshirt Freshman

Friday, September 23rd, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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AH

The Wisconsin Badgers have ended the speculation of a quarterback change early Thursday morning after announcing via Facebook Live that Redshirt Freshman Alex Hornibrook will start Saturday versus Michigan State.

Rumors began last week during the Badgers 23-17 victory over Georgia State that the plug might be pulled on starter Bart Houston after his in-game struggles. Houston was eventually benched in favor of Hornibrook, who came in and sparked the offense.

Hornibrook has thrown for 183 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in parts of two games this season.

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

Follow and Interact with Fred on social media @FPerdueSports

Oregon Pays Homage to Mascot

Thursday, September 22nd, 2016

by Fred Perdue

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The Oregon Ducks are known for some of the most vivacious uniforms in the land and this Saturday they won’t disappoint, yet again. This time paying homage to their own Duck mascot for their upcoming matchup against Colorado. One thing is for sure, the Ducks look to avenge a loss to Nebraska while also making sure The Duck is kept busy with his signature pushups after points are scored in bunches.

OD

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

Follow and Interact with Fred on social media @FPerdueSports

 

Florida DB Guarantees Win vs. Vols

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016

By Fred Perdue

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FL vs TE

Florida Junior defensive back Quincy Wilson is very confident heading into Saturday’s matchup against No. 14 Tennessee, going so far as to guarantee victory over the Volunteers.

Wilson referred to Tennessee as ‘ducks’.

“We have a message from DBU (‘Defensive Back University’) to Tennessee,” Wilson said. “Have you ever seen a duck pull a truck? Ducks don’t pull trucks. Nobody has ever seen a duck pull a truck. Florida Gators are going to win, simple as that.”

The Gators hold 11 consecutive victories over the Vols, so the brash confidence and bravado from the young defensive back is well understood.

Florida is ranked No. 19 heading into the game, with both teams maintaining 3-0 records.

“Yeah, we’re going to go out there and play Gator football and win,” Wilson said. “I know what type of players we have on our team. I know what everybody can do, what we show in practice, how hard we go. I know that we can’t be stopped.”

The Gators defense ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense and scoring defense, due in large part to the quality of opponents it’s played to this point.

Both teams are marred with injures. Redshirt sophomore starting quarterback Luke Del Rio, who reportedly suffered a sprained MCL following a questionable hit last Saturday, will miss a couple weeks. Sophomore right guard Tyler Jordan will also be out as he deals with an eye problem stemming from surgery he had last season. Most expect sophomore wide receiver Antonio Callaway to be active for the game, but he’s dealing with a quadriceps contusion that had him noticeably hobbled for the last week. The Vols will be missing two of their best defenders in linebacker Darrin Kirkland and No. 1 cornerback Cameron Sutton, who are both dealing with ankle injuries. Joining Sutton on the injury list last week were linebackers Quart’e Sapp (ACL) and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder), though Tennessee expects Reeves-Maybin to go while Sapp, a reserve, has been lost for the season.

 

The UF-Tennessee Rivalry has been hyped up all offseason and the back and forth between both teams has been intense as ever and looks to be a very physical game on Saturday.

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

Follow and Interact with Fred on social media @FPerdueSports

Miami Athletics Announces Virtual Reality Channel: UM Athletics partnered with EON Sports VR to create Canes VR [Press Release]

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016

The U

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Athletic Department is excited to announce a cutting edge partnership with EON Sports VR to create a state of the art virtual reality (VR) channel, Canes VR, for the Hurricanes’ loyal and passionate alumni and fans.

 

The partnership between Miami and EON Sports VR, the world’s leading virtual reality sports training and fan experience company, is among the first offerings nationally in intercollegiate athletics to provide fans with an all-access virtual reality channel.

 

Through EON Sports’ proprietary technology, the University of Miami can upload dynamic content to their customized VR channel to provide their fans an immersive behind-the-scenes experience in a customized virtual reality environment.

 

To access the VR channel, Hurricane fans will have the opportunity to purchase a UM-branded VR headset. Practice footage, scrimmages, huddles, and interviews are just a few examples of the types of content to be streamed to the channel.

 

“We’re incredibly excited to be working with EON Sports to put this virtual reality channel together. At the University of Miami, we strive to be on the cutting edge of digital, video, social, and web technologies and EON and their team have helped immensely in that endeavor,” said Jason Layton, Miami Senior Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Sales. “After an investment in broadcast and video production, we wanted to expand into other ventures, including 360º video and we’re able to do that with this immersive product. As we look forward to an October launch, we’re excited to show off what our team has been working on in conjunction with EON Sports.”

 

The University of Miami is aiming to debut the new technology to fans in early October providing content from both their men’s, and women’s teams.

 

“We are thrilled to partner with the University of Miami, and together, look forward to providing the Hurricanes fan base with a new & immersive way to experience Hurricanes content,” said Adam Pummill, COO of EON Sports VR. “Fans are always looking for ways to get closer to the action. With Canes VR, they’ll experience content like never before.”

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

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Legend of The U Adidas Unis [Press Release]

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016
Legend of The U, #3StripeLife

Legend of The U, #3StripeLife

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Miami and Adidas today unveiled the Hurricanes’ new ‘Legend of the U’ Primeknit football uniforms, which will make their debut on Oct. 8 when the Hurricanes take on the Florida State at Hard Rock Stadium.

As the Miami football program begins a new era under the guidance of former quarterback and new head coach Mark Richt, the ‘Legend of the U’ uniforms echo the past while looking to the future, and that overarching theme inspired the collaborative design between the University of Miami’s athletic department and Adidas Football.

U Away

Merging innovation and style to produce the perfect blend of modern technology with a historic, national championship-yielding look, the retro style uniforms were designed as a nod the legacy and domination of the teams from the 80’s and 90’s which saw the Hurricanes win four national championships. Attention to detail was crucial to replicate a retro look, and during the research phase of the design, jersey numbers, stripes and logos were precisely measured from archival products worn by the Hurricanes to create an accurate execution of the design elements.

U Home GlovesU Away Gloves

Mirroring the dynasty years, the retro uniforms are highlighted by two combinations that will become the home and away looks for the program effective upon their debuts. The first uniform, debuting on Saturday, Oct. 8, will feature orange jerseys paired with white pants, and the second uniform, set to debut Thursday, Oct. 20, will feature white jerseys paired with orange pants.

Made with a cutting-edge, proprietary yarn blend that increases durability and abrasion resistance, Primeknit is the premier compression uniform system, featuring the latest generation of adidas TECHFIT technology. Primeknit helps keep players cool and increases range of motion, giving athletes an unrivaled level of comfort and allowing them to perform at their highest levels. The jersey’s padlock system secures tension over the shoulder pads, while the bodymap fit adheres to the player, making it difficult for opponents to grab, hold or tackle.

U Home Jersey

Additional design details include the adizero 5-Star 5.0 cleats, which contain a sockliner that depicts Sebastian the Ibis and a fire extinguisher, a nod to the mascot’s exhilarating actions on the sideline and the Hurricanes’ pre-game entrance. Additionally, an oversized graphic of Sebastian the Ibis is featured on the inside of adizero 5-Star 5.0 gloves with 4-way stretch mesh for compression fit and GripTack for consistent control in all weather conditions, while the backside of the gloves includes a triangular patch that’s embedded into the white gloves to replicate the gloves used during the 80’s.

U Away Jersey

 

Fred Perdue for War Room Sports

Follow and Interact with Fred on social media @FPerdueSports