Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has revealed that batter Rinku Singh will be joining the team on Wednesday (February 25) evening, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Zimbabwe. The Super 8 clash is scheduled to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26.
Rinku Singh was not present for Team India’s mandatory training session on Tuesday as he had left the squad to deal with a family emergency. Reports soon emerged that the southpaw was visiting his father, whose condition, amid long-term cancer treatment, had deteriorated.
The batter has not yet returned as he is not a part of the optional training session on Wednesday, with only Tilak Varma and Varun Chakaravarthy being part of the proceedings.
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“Rinku will come back today evening,” Sitanshu Kotak confirmed during the pre-match press conference. (via RevSportz).
It remains to be seen whether Rinku Singh will be in contention for selection for the playing XI in the upcoming clash.
“There can be changes in the game” – Batting coach on Team India’s playing XI after crushing loss in IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 match
The batting coach admitted that the recent result against South Africa in the Super 8 stage and the left-handed top-order being exploited by oppositions, have forced the team management to think about potential changes in the combination.
“There can be changes in the game. We are thinking of the top three left-handers and oppositions bowling off spin. Now that we have lost openers early in 3 matches we are talking about it. The No. 8 position, we think is for all-rounders,” Sitanshu Kotak explained.
The coach also defended Tilak Varma, who has been struggling with form and rhythm after coming into the T20 World Cup 2026 right after an injury, followed by surgery.
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“There are no issue s with how Tilak is batting. He batted well against Pakistan. For Tilak, it is a matter of two boundaries (on his strike rate). There’s no concern about his run a ball innings. There is no tension regarding Abhishek, Tilak or even the loss against SA,” the Indian coach added.
Both Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma have had a campaign to forget so far. The former has scored only 107 runs at an average of 21.40 and a strike rate of 118.89, and was dismissed for one run against South Africa.
Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, recorded three consecutive ducks in the group stage for India. Although he ended the string of ducks against South Africa, he perished soon after, scoring 15 runs off 12 deliveries.
Welcome to our weekly PGA Tour gambling-tips column, featuring picks from GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator, Brady Kannon. A seasoned golf bettor and commentator, Kannon is a host and regular guest on SportsGrid, a syndicated audio network devoted to sports and sports betting, and is a golf betting analyst for CBS Sportsline. You can follow Brady on Twitter at @LasVegasGolfer, and you can read his picks below for the 2026 Cognizant Classic, which gets underway Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Say goodbye to the Pacific coastline, desert golf, and Poa Annua and hello to palm trees, water hazards, and Bermudagrass. Yes, the West Coast Swing has concluded and we are onto Florida. The 2026 PGA Tour season begins its Florida Swing at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida for the Cognizant Classic, the first of four consecutive stops in the Sunshine State.
Coming off two straight Signature Events and with another coming up next week at Bay Hill in Orlando, the Cognizant takes a hit as far as strength of field. Positioned on the schedule as a “tweener” makes for an unfortunate but obvious off week for the top players in the game.
Not only has this event changed in name (formerly known as the Honda Classic) but it has changed dramatically in terms of golf course difficulty. George and Tom Fazio designed PGA National back in the early 1980s. Jack Nicklaus was called upon to do a redesign in 1990 and has made three or four additional tweaks since then. For many years, we saw the champions barely reach double-digits under par. Chris Kirk won in a playoff four seasons ago at 14 under. Austin Eckroat won in 2024 at 17 under par and Joe Highsmith is your defending champion, closing at 19 under last year.
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One of the more challenging par 4s on Tour, the 10th hole at PGA National, was lengthened by 20 yards two years ago and converted to a much more scorable par 5. The dormant Bermudagrass is now being overseeded with winter Ryegrass and this makes for a softer landing, more receptive fairways, and less penal rough. It is interesting but this has really changed things by seemingly half a dozen shots or more. Jack Knapp opened last year’s event by shooting a 59. The current iteration is a par 71 that stretches to a little better than 7,200 yards and is now considered solely a Nicklaus design.
Another element that is always a factor here in Palm Beach Gardens is the wind. With water coming into play on 15 of the 18 holes, a good breeze can make things quite dicey. Nicklaus’ stretch of closing holes, Nos. 15 – 17, is known as the “Bear Trap.” Two par 3s and a par 4, all with shots over water. The forecast is calling for winds in the neighborhood of 10-15 mph. That is significant — but if it kicks up any higher, we could see some carnage.
For me, the golf course demands accuracy, ball striking, and scrambling around the greens. I looked at Strokes Gained: Approach, Off the Tee, and Ball Striking. I looked at Good Drives Gained, Scrambling, and Hole Proximity from 125-200 yards. With water all over the place, 60 sand bunkers, and wind, hitting good approach shots from 150 yards or more – PGA National becomes one of the more challenging venues on Tour to do such things.
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As for the correlated courses, I believe much of it has to do with how one plays in Florida. The conditions are similar at each venue on the swing, Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational), Innisbrook (Valspar), TPC Sawgrass (the Players), and PGA National. I feel we see some crossover success with Waialae in Honolulu and also with recent Canadian Open venues, Hamilton, St. George’s, and TPC Toronto. Finally, there is a lot of crossover success here at the Cognizant with that of the Open Championship. Former Open champions, Padraig Harrington and Marc Calcavecchia have each won this event twice. Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Leonard, Rickie Fowler, and Todd Hamilton have all won here in Florida and have either won or played especially well in the Open. Personally, I believe much of that comes down to ball-striking and an ability to play in the wind — both handy when it comes to an Open Championship or the Florida Swing.
Daniel Berger (40-1)
The Florida State Seminole really kicked off his career here at PGA National when he lost in a playoff as a Tour rookie in 2015. He’s twice finished fourth here since then in 2020 and in 2022. Berger has always been a good ball-striker, wind player, accurate driver, and Bermudagrass specialist. Over the last 24 rounds, he ranks eighth in this field for Hole Proximity from 150-175 yards. He was sixth earlier this season in Hawaii at Waialae and eighth at the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s in 2021.
Aaron Rai (40-1)
Here is another very accurate, ball-striker type player that knows his way around windy conditions. Rai finished 14th at Hamilton at the Canadian Open in 2024 and 13th at St. George’s in 2022. He was 19th at Royal St. George’s in 2021 at the Open. In this field, Rai ranks 12th for SG: Approach, seventh in Bogey Avoidance, and is No. 1 for Good Drives Gained over the last 24 rounds.
Haotong Li at the 2025 Magical Kenya Open.
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Haotong Li (49-1)
We tried Li a few weeks ago in Phoenix and came up short but I am going to go back to him here given his recent form and his skill set. He’s finished eighth and 11th on Tour this season and top 10 twice on the DP World Tour to close out 2025. Li is currently eighth on Tour for SG: Tee to Green, 17th in Total Driving, and 19th for Scrambling. Li has twice finished top 4 at the Open Championship, including last summer at Royal Portrush.
Jordan Smith (60-1)
I’ve always felt Smith has a great deal of upside and I’m glad we are now getting to see him on a regular basis on the PGA Tour, where he currently ranks fifth in Total Driving, sixth in Greens in Regulation, and is No. 1 in Ball Striking. He finished 16th a few weeks ago in Phoenix and closed out 2025 on the DP World Tour with finishes of 15-20-and-21.
Mackenzie Hughes (62-1)
Enter the Canadian short game wizard who comes off two straight top-35 finishes at Phoenix and two weeks ago at Pebble Beach, where he ranked 17th in the field for Greens in Regulation. Over the last 24 rounds, Hughes ranks second in this field for Scrambling. At the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s in 2021, Hughes finished sixth. He was runner-up here at the Cognizant in 2020 and has finished seventh and 14th in the Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in 2024 and in 2019.
Emiliano Grillo (85-1)
It truly is a melting pot of selections this week, so why not an Argentinian? Seriously though, Grillo is a ball-striker who really seems to fit Florida golf. He was eighth here in Palm Beach Gardens in 2018, has been eighth and seventh at Bay Hill, and as high as 11th at The Players. He missed three cuts in five starts out west, so the move to the southeast may be a much-needed change. Over the last 24 rounds, Grillo ranks 14th in this field for Bogey Avoidance, 13th in Hole Proximity from 125-150 yards, and is seventh for Good Drives Gained. At the Open Championship, he has twice finished 12th and was sixth in 2023.
Liverpool and Manchester City discover their Champions League round of 16 opponents on Friday, with the draw se to take place two days after the play-off round ties are completed
UEFA are bracing themselves for potentially two chaotic days involving Manchester City and Liverpool, depending on the outcome of Friday’s Champions League draw. The Premier League sides are in the round of 16, having secured automatic qualification from the group stage.
They will learn their opponents during Friday’s draw, after the knockout play-off stage concludes on Wednesday night. Both clubs are aware they will currently meet one of three teams, and that number will drop to two following Wednesday night’s second legs.
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For City, they will meet either Bodo/Glimt, who defeated Inter 5-2 on aggregate, or either Real Madrid or Benfica. Real Madrid currently hold a 1-0 aggregate lead in that fixture.
For Liverpool, it’s between Atletico Madrid, who secured their spot with a 7-4 aggregate victory on Tuesday night, and either Juventus or Galatasaray. The Turkish side currently hold a 5-2 advantage from the first leg.
For both teams, the first leg will take place away from home.
However, with Liverpool potentially being paired against Atletico Madrid, and City having the prospect of meeting Real Madrid, it means both sets of supporters could be in the Spanish capital simultaneously.
The opening leg of the last 16 phase will occur on March 10 and 11. The return fixtures will then follow a week later, on March 17 and 18.
Should this prove accurate, and given the recent tensions between the clubs, it suggests that UEFA and local police forces may need to implement additional security measures.
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Liverpool and City have been battling for Premier League supremacy in recent years, with City winning more often.
However, Liverpool capitalised on Pep Guardiola’s team’s decline last season to claim their 20th league title.
Both sides will also be aiming to add to their European Cup collections this campaign.
Liverpool have claimed the competition and its forerunner six times, whilst City secured the trophy for the first time in 2022/23.
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On paper it’s top versus mid-table. In reality, the context is doing most of the talking: Glasgow could be without close to 15 frontline players, Connacht are missing Finlay Bealham plus long-term injuries, and the betting line has swung so far that Connacht are around -3 favourites after a season where they’d usually be double-digit underdogs in this match-up.
It doesn’t flatter Connacht, but the table is tighter than it looks. A win here keeps the play-off chase alive, especially with Scarlets in two weeks in what becomes a vital mini-block for points.
The Six Nations Factor
Glasgow have been the most consistent side in the URC this season — 44 points, best points difference, and a run that has them looking like champions again. But international windows change everything.
Glasgow are expected to be missing ~15 starters due to Scotland duty
The handicap has flipped from what would likely be Glasgow -10 in a normal week to Connacht -3
Leadership and cohesion are the big risks when you remove a full international spine
They’ll still be structured. They’ll still have threat. But this is the kind of week where depth gets tested properly.
Connacht Recent URC Form
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
F
A
29 Nov 2025
Sharks
Dexcom Stadium
W
44
17
20 Dec 2025
Dragons
Rodney Parade
L
28
48
27 Dec 2025
Ulster
Dexcom Stadium
L
24
29
03 Jan 2026
Leinster
Aviva Stadium
L
17
52
24 Jan 2026
Leinster
Dexcom Stadium
L
23
34
31 Jan 2026
Zebre Parma
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
W
31
15
Connacht have won 2 of their last 6 URC matches
The Zebre win (31–15) ended a run of four straight defeats
Connacht have lost their last two URC home matches and haven’t lost three in a row at Dexcom Stadium in the Championship since January 2021
Glasgow Recent URC Form
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
F
A
29 Nov 2025
Scarlets
Parc y Scarlets
L
0
23
20 Dec 2025
Edinburgh
Hampden Park
W
24
12
27 Dec 2025
Edinburgh
Scottish Gas Murrayfield
W
21
3
03 Jan 2026
Zebre Parma
Scotstoun Stadium
W
47
10
24 Jan 2026
Zebre Parma
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
W
26
21
30 Jan 2026
Munster
Scotstoun Stadium
W
31
22
Glasgow have won 5 of their last 6 URC matches
Their only defeat in that run was 0–23 away to Scarlets
They’ve conceded just 91 points across those six matches (avg 15.2 per game)
Recent URC Meetings: Connacht v Glasgow
Date
Match
Venue
Score
22 Feb 2019
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht
Scotstoun Stadium
43–17
03 Oct 2020
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Dexcom Stadium
28–24
29 Jan 2022
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Dexcom Stadium
20–42
22 Apr 2023
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht
Scotstoun Stadium
29–27
28 Oct 2023
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Dexcom Stadium
34–26
26 Jan 2025
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht
Scotstoun Stadium
22–19
Connacht’s only win in the last four meetings was 34–26 in Galway in October 2023
The last meeting in Scotland was a tight one: Glasgow 22–19 Connacht (January 2025)
URC Era Record
Team
Played
Wins
Win %
Losses
Draws
Connacht
470
188
40.00%
271
11
Glasgow Warriors
486
275
56.58%
197
14
What It Means for Connacht (and Lancaster)
It’s been a rough first season for Stuart Lancaster results-wise, but the injury context matters. Connacht have been forced to lean on academy players far more than planned, and while that may pay off long-term, the URC table doesn’t wait for development stories.
This game is different. Glasgow are weakened. Connacht are closer to a settled XV than they’ve been in months. That flips the pressure.
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With Scarlets coming in two weeks, Connacht need a points haul from this block. Beat Glasgow’s second string at home and you suddenly have a runway. Miss the chance and the season starts slipping away fast.
Key Match Angles
Tempo: Connacht should try to play at speed and stretch Glasgow’s combinations
Breakdown pressure: less settled Glasgow units can be exposed if Connacht win collisions
Game management: Connacht must control exits — Glasgow live off cheap turnover ball
Prediction
This is the kind of fixture that usually feels like a free swing. Not this week. If Connacht want the play-offs, this is one they have to take.
Connacht by 4–8 points (but only if their set-piece and exits hold up).
Ryan Garcia’s father and trainer, Henry Garcia, has outlined the determining factor for whether a showdown between his son and Shakur Stevenson gets made.
Prior to their clash, many questioned whether Garcia was in the right mental space to dethrone Barrios, a tough but technically limited world champion.
But before facing Barrios, Garcia had expressed his desire to lock horns with Stevenson, the WBO super-lightweight champion, in a bid to test himself against one of his sport’s most elite operators.
Speaking with MillCity Boxing, though, Henry Garcia has said that Stevenson must move up to 147lbs, or else they will pursue a rematch with Devin Haney.
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“Absolutely [the Haney rematch is bigger than a Shakur Stevenson fight], by far, there is no comparison. In order for [Stevenson] to fight us, he’s going to have to come up to [147lbs]. Didn’t [Crawford] go up [to fight] Canelo [at 168lbs]? And he got respect, right?
“Why doesn’t Shakur go up to [fight] Ryan? He wants Ryan to [agree to] a catchweight. We don’t want to start going down – unless it makes sense, but I doubt it.”
Stevenson comes off a one-sided points victory over Teofimo Lopez, for which he moved up from 135lbs, and became a four-division world champion last month.
But despite Stevenson’s lofty status as a pound-for-pound star, Henry Garcia firmly believes that a rematch between his son and Haney, the WBO welterweight champion, is a much bigger fight.
Their first encounter came in April 2024, though Garcia’s majority decision victory was later overturned to a no-contest due to him testing positive for banned substance ostarine.
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., right, guards Purdue’s Braden Smith during the second half on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
In previous seasons, Michigan State and Purdue playing this late with both ranked among the nation’s top 15 would feel like the Big Ten’s most important game of the year.
But entering their only regular-season meeting on Thursday night in West Lafayette, Ind., this clash between No. 13 Michigan State (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten) and No. 8 Purdue (22-5, 12-4) has no banner-hanging implications.
With Michigan owning a commanding lead in the conference title race, the Spartans and Boilermakers are left to play for postseason seeds and bragging rights instead of league titles.
Considering Purdue and Michigan State have won the last three Big Ten crowns — and their coaches have combined for 16 league titles — this is not an insignificant concession.
“Not being able to win the Big Ten championship is tough,” said Purdue head coach Matt Painter, whose team comes off a 93-64 rout of Indiana on Friday. “That’s tough. But we’re the ones that lost the games. So we’ve got to try to get better, try to improve. I thought (Indiana) was a great bounceback for our guys, but it’s hard to take. It’s really hard to take when you have lofty goals and one of them is out the window.”
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Purdue comes in having won five of its last six games. The only problem for the Boilermakers is that the defeat was a 91-80 home loss to Michigan, which essentially ended their hopes for a league title.
Purdue will forge on and focus on Michigan State in what will be a battle of two of the best point guards in the country.
In fact, Michigan State junior Jeremy Fears and Purdue senior Braden Smith are 1-2 in the country in assists. Fears averages 9.2 assists while Smith, who ranks fifth all-time with 994 assists, averages 8.7 per contest.
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The Spartans are coming off back-to-back home wins over UCLA and Ohio State, but they have lost their last two road games and don’t have a signature road win yet.
After Purdue, Michigan State will have another tough road game at Indiana.
“We have to get better,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. “We talked a lot with the group about what the next couple of days are going to be like and what the next couple of weeks are going to be like. Our schedule ends about as tough as anybody’s.”
Michigan State will try to achieve that in a place that’s been a house of horrors lately.
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The Spartans have lost their last five games at Mackey Arena — six if you count an NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA during the COVID-plagued 2020-21 season.
The last time Michigan State won at Mackey Arena was in 2014.
“Mackey Arena is one of the toughest we play in during the conference or nonconference,” Izzo said. “I think this is a really experienced Purdue team. They’ve got three guys in Smith, (Fletcher) Loyer and (Trey) Kaufman-Renn where it seems like they’ve been there forever.”
Star Thoroughbreds stands to enjoy a monumental Wednesday at the Launceston Cup, even without Denise Martin represented in the signature event.
Expect Martin’s signature purple and white to fly on the leading hopes in four races adjacent to the $250,000 Group 3 Cup, the ninth race at 5.29pm.
The Vamos Stakes (1400m), another Group 3 35 minutes pre-Cup, sees Sanniya as firm favourite, after Durazzo‘s tilt at the Listed Hellova Street Stakes (1600m) and Mazzini‘s bid in the non-Black Type $125,000 3YO Classic (1200m).
Barry Campbell, trainer for Star Thoroughbreds in Tasmania, also saddles Azonto in the 1200m benchmark 64 curtain-closer.
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Favouritism is keenly contested among the four, Sanniya and Mazzini odds-on shots, with Sanniya pursuing five in a row while Mazzini hopes to recover from his recent four-win sequence interruption.
This three-year-old by Needs Further ran fourth at $1.16 in the $75,000 Magic Millions 3&4YO Classic (1200m) on February 6’s Tasmanian Derby undercard, and Martin later pinpointed a cause.
“When Barry took him home that night the horse ate up, he was not unsound, he was well, but we had bloods taken on him on the Monday and his iron levels were a little bit down,” Martin said.
“He had whatever is the usual supplement that vets make sure horses for blood irregularities like that have and since that time he’s been really good.”
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At $1.90 for the 3YO Classic, Mazzini gets stall two and jockey Kelvin Sanderson.
The rest of Martin’s runners ride with Craig Newitt, featuring Sanniya – three-year-old Stratosphere daughter, six-for-seven – at $1.55 trying 1400m first up.
“Craig is adamant that she will run 1400 metres,” Martin said.
Durazzo, full brother to Mazzini, thrills with a return to Launceston (seven-for-eight record) to rectify his tight Thomas Lyons Stakes reverse against Steparty on February 8, per the Listed Thomas Lyons Stakes.
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“He seems to enjoy Mowbray even more than Hobart and he loves 1600, so I think the owners are very keen for another contest with Steparty to see if he can turn it around.”
Only six acceptors in the Hellova Street Stakes, Durazzo widest and Steparty from barrier four.
Looking Forward, Backward and Sideways at the Vikings’ Offseason
During the NFL offseason, it is time to look forward, backward and sideways (and in this case we look at the Minnesota Vikings). There is always plenty to look forward to, as this is the season of speculation designed specifically for Purple prognostication. And, as far as the Vikings are concerned, there is a great history of individual performances, near misses and more than an odd or exceptional win/loss to discuss. The Vikings are an infinitely fascinating franchise if not ultimately a successful one (where success is often only defined by winning the Super Bowl).
But this time on the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast, the fellas—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—look back in sadness to a couple of players who wore Viking purple, and are, unfortunately, no longer with us: WR Rondale Moore and defensive back Ronyell Whitaker.
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The news of these passings brings sadness to Purple Nation, for sure. But couple the news of their passing with the death of rookie draft pick Khyree Jackson last summer, and the Vikings organization has experienced more than enough of highly emotional difficulties of late. We will pay tribute to a couple players who, though only playing a short time in Minnesota, still deserve their due.
In addition, we will look forward to free agency, the draft and the NFL Combine just on the horizon. But if you want to know what we look sideways at, well, you’ll just have to tune in and check it out. Skol!
Joe Oberle is a veteran sportswriter/editor/reporter and has covered the Vikings since 2008. The author of three books, he … More about Joe Oberle
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Do you consider the absolute dream candidate for the Minnesota Vikings a 3rd-Round cornerback? Probably not — but Bleacher Report does. BR’s Gary Davenport picked a “dream target” for every team in this year’s draft, and for Minnesota, that man is Texas’s Malik Muhammad.
He’s twitchy, competitive, and sticky in coverage, with the kind of edge Minnesota keeps chasing at corner.
Muhammad Would Evidently Fit Brian Flores’ CB Mold
A curveball some eight weeks before the draft.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) lines up during College Football Playoff first-round action against the Clemson Tigers at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The young defender handled coverage duties in a high-stakes postseason matchup for Texas. Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA: Muhammad competed in the CFP spotlight as the Longhorns hosted Clemson. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
BR: Muhammad Is the Vikings’ Dream Rookie
Most opened Davenport’s article expecting to find a running back like Jeremiyah Love or a cornerback like Mansoor Delane. But Davenport disagreed.
On Muhammad as the Vikings’ dream pick, he explained, “The quarterback position in Minnesota will dominate the offseason conversation surrounding the Vikings, but if the team adds competition for J.J. McCarthy this spring, it will likely come via a veteran free agent. The Vikings were stout defensively in 2025, allowing fewer passing yards per game (158.5) than any team in the NFC.”
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“But the team has a potential issue on the back end—outside of Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, the team’s depth at the cornerback position is essentially non-existent. That should lead the Vikes to look to add a cornerback relatively early in this year’s draft, and Malik Muhammad of Texas could be an intriguing target on Day 2.”
The Consensus Big Board has Muhammad listed at No. 82 as of February 24th. A 3rd-Rounder.
Davenport continued, “A 6’0″ 188-pounder who spent the 2025 season matched up with opponents’ No. 1 receivers, Muhammad has it all — size, speed, athleticism, fluidity in coverage…you name it.”
“He also has a background in track and basketball, which can’t hurt at a position that involves a fair amount of running, jumping and whatnot.”
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The Scouting Report
Muhammad is 6’0″ and 190 pounds. He played 41 games at Texas, logging 97 tackles, 16 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. He also has youth on his side; he won’t turn 22 until September. Muhammad is known for his versatility, twitchiness, and role as a defensive field general.
NFL Draft Buzzon Muhammad: “Muhammad brings immediate value as a defender who can contribute in multiple packages from day one. What jumps off the tape is his natural feel for route distributions and ability to process passing concepts – he sees the game unfold with veteran anticipation despite his youth.”
“Watching him navigate complex coverage assignments against elite SEC competition revealed a corner who rarely finds himself out of position and consistently plays above his experience level. His best NFL fit appears to be with defensive schemes employing pattern-match principles that maximize his instincts and football IQ.”
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It’s worth noting that the Vikings are in the middle — hopefully near the end — of a severe drought in drafting cornerbacks. Ten years have passed since the franchise picked one of any round with staying power.
NBD added, “Coordinators who prioritize versatility in their secondary will appreciate his ability to execute both man and zone techniques with equal proficiency. While Muhammad doesn’t possess elite length, he compensates with exceptional footwork and transitional quickness that lets him mirror even the craftiest route runners.”
“The technical refinement he displays in press technique and zone spacing indicates a prospect who’s been meticulously coached. The comparison that resonates when studying Muhammad is a young Marcus Peters.”
Perhaps the Value Is Really That Great
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Davenport must love Muhammad and his fit in Minnesota because it’s not often that a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder pulls down “dream” draft candidate status a couple of months before the event.
So, how would Davenport’s assertion come true? Well, first, the Vikings would have to scoop Muhammad from Round 2 or 3, fitting his current stock. Thereafter, if he immediately latched on as a starter and remained for longer than a few years, Davenport would be vindicated.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) wraps up Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Anthony Evans III (5) during second-quarter action at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The defensive play stopped the receiver short after a short gain in a key conference matchup. Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA: Muhammad secured the tackle along the sideline for Texas. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
The Vikings must also get into the habit — soon — of playing rookies. In the last four years, rookies don’t often see the field in Year No. 1, with the exception of wide receiver Jordan Addison and guard Ed Ingram. For example, Minnesota drafted wideout Tai Felton in Round 3 last year; the guy barely played on offense as a rookie.
If Davenport is correct, the Vikings grab Muhammad from Round 2 or 3, and he plays right away, fans will treat him like a supreme breath of fresh air.
Other Dream Candidates
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How about real dream draft candidates for Minnesota? Here’s a look at Round 1 rookies who would bring tremendous joy to the fan base if they [somehow] fell to Pick No. 18:
Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. (3) celebrates with linebacker Sonny Styles (0) after returning a punt for a touchdown during third-quarter action against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium. The brothers shared the moment on the sideline after the special teams score energized the crowd. Nov 15, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA: Styles finished the return with a touchdown. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images.
Downs, Love, and Styles live in a category of their own; they’re virtually guaranteed to be gone by Pick No. 18. Delane would turn heads, as he’s considered the top corner in the draft.
Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Brenen Thompson (0) catches the ball for a touchdown over Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Cue the lights, these men in tights are ready to steal the show at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
Only one running back, Notre Dame’s Jeremyiah Love, is a first-rounder. Claiborne’s shifty nature and explosive burst out of the backfield are coveted by teams shopping for change-of-pace backs. If Claiborne can run in the 4.3 range and deliver a dynamite three-cone agility test result, this weaker RB class is his for the taking.
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
A candidate to break Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record, Thompson is small and can’t do much about that. His downfield speed could cause heads to turn with a target in the 4.2s.
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Hurst’s small-school pedigree has left some wondering if he can adjust against NFL cornerbacks. If he continues to show precision and explosiveness in and out of breaks, Hurst can erase enough doubt to be in the top 64 picks.
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Jaren Kanak, TE, Oklahoma
Some feigned surprise he was invited to Indy, but if you’ve been keying in on the Sooners, you know why Kanak is here. He will likely have one of the fastest times for the tight end position, and his defensive experience should translate to impressive bench press rep counts as well.
Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
Dunker’s combine performance will be a double-edged sword. He’s almost certainly going to nail his bench press reps with his yolked arms and impressive frame, but teams will be looking to see how he performs during agility drills. Everyone knows Dunker is strong. The question is, Can he move like an NFL lineman? Performing well could send him into the top 50.
Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
Aug 31, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) celebrates after a stop during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Durant’s first-step explosiveness is intense. As a speed-rushing tackle, he has a knack for penetrating inside gaps, a valued skill for a position valuing speed to power. If he can crush his 40 and agility drills, Durant won’t be easy to pass on draft day.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Athletically he’s a no-doubt first-round prospect. Following a down year in terms of production, his final grade isn’t set in stone. Woods participating in the combine drills and showing off his athletic prowess would cement his stock.
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Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
As a former five-star recruit, Perkins’ athletic pedigree should be highly valued. He currently is a mid-round prospect. With talk of him moving to edge in some schemes, timed speed and strength will be more important for Perkins than ever, especially if he’s carrying the weight to reflect his desire to play outside.
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Cisse is looking to break into a packed conversation around corners with first-round value. The combine is his best opportunity. His size, speed and strength are exceptional. Putting numbers down on paper to match the film would mean booking himself tickets to Pittsburgh in April.
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
The battle for the third-best safety in the class is wide open — Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is the clear-cut No. 1 and top five overall. If Payne backs up his impressive athletic traits evident on film in on-field drills and testing, he’ll be a big-time riser.
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