Midway through the second quarter on Sunday afternoon in Columbia, Raven Johnson sprung a trap. Matched up against Cotie McMahon in the corner, Johnson watched and waited while Ole Miss ran a pick-and-roll up top. Then, just as Kaitlin Peterson picked up her dribble and turned to throw the ball out to McMahon, Johson jumped into the passing lane for a steal and took the ball coast-to-coast for a layup.
Johnson’s bucket put South Carolina ahead by 11, and the Gamecocks led by double digits the rest of the way en route to a dominant 85-48 win that secured the SEC regular season title for the fifth season in a row. Though Johnson only finished with six points in the victory — tied for the fifth-highest total for the Gamecocks — she showed why she deserves to be a first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Johnson’s WNBA stock has fluctuated throughout her time in college. She helped the Gamecocks win the national championship as a redshirt junior in 2024, and drew rave reviews for her defense against Caitlin Clark in the title game. However, she was unable to build on that momentum last season, and after a disappointing campaign on a personal level, she decided to use her extra year of eligibility to return to school rather than turn pro.
That proved to be a wise decision. Johnson has bounced back with the best season of her career: 9.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals on 48.7/35.2/84.1 shooting splits. Those aren’t gaudy numbers, and Johnson can still be inconsistent as a scorer, as we saw Sunday, but it’s everything else that’s going to make her a first-round pick.
“I think that Raven Johnson does not get the credit that she should. I think she is the best point guard in the country,” Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said Sunday after Johnson’s excellent two-way performance, which included seven assists, three steals and just one turnover.
Shutting down McMahon
Johnson is best known for her defense, so let’s start on that side of the ball.
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She spent most of Sunday shadowing McMahon, Ole Miss’s leading scorer and another potential first-round pick in this year’s WNBA draft. McMahon entered the game averaging 20.7 points, and was coming off 39- and 25-point performances. Her hot streak came to an abrupt end
Johnson helped hold McMahon to a season-low two points on 0 of 9 from the field. This was just the second time in McMahon’s career that she’s played at least 10 minutes and failed to make a shot, and her two points were tied for the third-fewest in her career.
Johnson is only 5-foot-9, but she has a 6-foot-2 wingspan, which is a real benefit against bigger players like the 6-foot McMahon. Throughout the game, Johnson got right into McMahon’s space and prevented her from getting anything going off the dribble.
Here, early in the third quarter, Johnson picks McMahon up fullcourt and forces her to give up the ball early. Because McMahon is only just inside the halfcourt line, her pass to the wing is longer than usual, which gives Ta’Niya Latson time to pick it off. Johnson doesn’t get any credit for this turnover in the box score, but she caused it.
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A few possessions later, McMahon doesn’t even try to bring the ball up the floor and throws it ahead instead. She gets it back near the top of the key, but Johnson’s pressure immediately forces her backwards, and then Johnson pokes the ball away for what should have been another turnover.
“I thought our players did a great job, Raven especially,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said of her team’s job defending McMahon. “The first line of that defense was so hard, that took her vision down, that occupied her dribble. Raven’s the very best at it.”
Johnson’s ability to mirror McMahon’s movements and weave around screens also made it difficult for Ole Miss to get McMahon going off the ball. Here, in the second quarter, Johnson fights through traffic to get a deflection on a baseline out of bounds play and forces Ole Miss to take the ball out again in the deep corner.
There is no better point of attack defender in this class than Johnson, and as the WNBA leans more into spacing and 3-point shooting over the coming years, that is going to become an even more valuable skill.
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“Unafraid of a challenge, is willing — she knows. Like, she knew she was gonna have to guard Cotie, she knew she was gonna have to guard Mikayla Blakes. She knows she’s gonna have to guard our opponents’ best perimeter [players], and sometimes small, power forwards,” Staley said of Johnson’s defensive impact. “We’re unafraid to switch if need be because we know Raven’s gonna give it her best shot at defending and making it difficult for people. I see it. I don’t think she gets credit enough for what she’s been doing over her career… She doesn’t have the numbers and the steals and the blocks that we look at… If you really look at what makes our team go defensively, it starts and ends with Raven.”
An improved playmaker
Johnson’s perimeter defense has never been a secret, but there have been questions about her offense. Though she is shooting a career-high 35.2% from 3-point range (on just 2.4 attempts per game), she still offers little as a scorer. Johnson has made real strides as a playmaker, though, and now looks much more like a viable point guard at the next level.
She finished with seven assists against Ole Miss and easily could have been in double figures in that category if her teammates had helped her out.
Johnson excels in transition, as we saw time and again Sunday. The weight of her passes were excellent and allowed her bigs to catch the ball in stride to either go up and finish or get fouled. This one in the third quarter to Alicia Tournebize stood out.
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She also showed that she could make high-level passes in the halfcourt, such as this backdoor feed to Tessa Johnson (which should have been converted) and this pocket pass to Madina Okot.
Additionally, Johnson only had one turnover on Sunday. She’s averaging 1.6 this season and for her career has just 196 turnovers in 3,485 minutes over 143 games. One of the most impressive stats about Johnson’s ability to take care of the ball is that she has 42 games without a turnover, and she played 20-plus minutes in 26 of those contests.
Would WNBA teams like to see more from Johnson offensively? Sure. In particular, can she become even more consistent from behind the arc to command attention when she doesn’t have the ball? But in an expanding league that’s already lacking point guard depth, Johnson’s ability to run an offense without making mistakes — combined with her elite defense — is going to be attractive to teams.
“Raven Johnson is a winner,” Staley said after South Carolina defeated LSU earlier this month. “Like, look it up in the dictionary, look it up on your iPhones, Raven Johnson is a winner. She makes plays. Winning plays… She’s probably the one that I’ll miss the most out of all the players that I’ve coached.”
Feb 21, 2026; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) reacts during the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Marriott Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Baker-Imagn Images
The stakes are high for both teams when UCF travels to No. 23 BYU for a pivotal Big 12 Conference showdown on Tuesday in Provo, Utah.
With two straight wins, the Knights have firmed up their place squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble. UCF (19-7, 8-6 Big 12) is ranked No. 46 in the NCAA NET. It is 9-7 in Quadrant 1 and 2 games. The Knights are 10-0 in Quad 3 and 4 games. So while UCF doesn’t have any bad losses, it did start February with a three-game losing streak.
Consecutive wins, an 82-71 home win over fellow bubble mate TCU on Tuesday was followed up with a 73-71 nailbiter of a road win at Utah on Saturday. Themus Fulks led the way against the Utes with 24 points and hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds for the Knights to escape with a win.
It was a win that kept the Knights’ Quad 3 and 4 sheet clean and it came without their co-leading scorer Riley Kugel (14.0 points per game). Kugel was injured late in the TCU game. The senior guard had started all 25 games. Reserve guard Carmelo Pacheco (5.0 points) was questionable before the Utah game but offered six points off the bench.
“Riley is still day-to-day,” UCF coach Johnny Dawkins said. “Pacheco did a great job of giving us a lift in both halves (against Utah).”
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Conversely, it appears BYU (20-7, 8-6) is inside the NCAA Tournament cut line. The Cougars are No. 19 in the NET and picked up a valuable 79-69 home win against No. 6 Iowa State on Saturday.
But it has been an up-and-down month for the Cougars. BYU is just 3-3 in February and lost second-leading scorer Richie Saunders, who averaged 18 points per game and 5.8 rebounds, to a torn ACL on Feb. 14 in a home win over Colorado.
“We’ve faced a lot of adversity and no one has blinked,” BYU coach Kevin Young said. “They’ve stayed together and have kept working.”
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Against the Cyclones, the Cougars sprung the upset as AJ Dybantsa stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. In Saunders absence, Kennard Davis Jr., who averages 7.8 points per game, racked up 17 points and pitched in four rebounds. Mihailo Boskovic (3.5 points) also exceeded his average with 13 points and five rebounds.
The senior from Serbia, Boskovic had just three starts this season and played 28 minutes against Iowa State, well above his season average of 12.9.
“I think there’s a lot to be said for opportunity and confidence,” Young said. “Those guys understand with Richie out their numbers are going to get called more. There’s a little more of a deep breath. They don’t have to press because they know the ball is going to come to them a little more.
“With Mihailo he knows he is going to play more minutes, so it’s a little easier to get into a rhythm when you have that mindset. At the same time, they get all the credit because they have stayed ready and they have been able to deliver.”
Team Akwa Ibom tennis player Etoro Bassey has described her victory over Lorelay Holzendorff as “thrilling” after reaching the women’s singles final at the 2nd Niger Delta Games in Benin City, Edo State.
“The feeling is thrilling. Last year (1st Edition of the Niger Delta Games) was basically the same thing as we met in the semifinals and I won and to defeat her again is a good thing for me,” Bassey said after her 2-0 (6-1, 6-1) win in the semifinal held on Monday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The 18-year-old said she had no fear going into the match despite Lorelay’s improvement. “I didn’t feel fear at all. I was confident in my game,” she stated.
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Etoro Bassey and Lorelay after their women’s singles semifinal at the 2nd Niger Delta Games
Bassey also said she is hoping for a repeat of last year’s final against fellow Team Akwa Ibom player, Favour James. “I am really looking forward to a repeat of last years final. I want to face Favour James in the final but if it happens otherwise fine.”
She praised the organisers of the Games for their support and welfare of athletes. “The competition is okay. They are treating us well, giving us good food and everything is okay.
“It has been fun in Edo State. I am getting to meet new people and our team we are supporting each other and so I am enjoying myself here.”
Bassey, who is competing in youth events, also revealed her ambition to reach the top circuit and become a professional tennis player.
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The Niger Delta Games is organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited and sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Events will run until the closing ceremony on February 26
As the second edition of the Niger Delta Games enters Day-3 in Benin, Edo State, the Scouting Committee has said that it has a mission to identify the next generation of star sportsmen and women from the region.
Chairman of the committee, Godwin Enakhena and his team has been moving round the games venues from morning sessions till the close of the day, monitoring and liaising with the screening committee to ensure that the right athletes were scouted.
“We’re ready to help discover the next Blessing Oborodudu, Victor Ikpeba, Victor Osimhen, Nwankwo Kanu, Efe Ajagba, Enefiok Udo-Obong, Blessing Okagbare, Ese Brume etc for the Niger Delta region”, he asserted Sunday afternoon when he joined a group of former athletics stars at the track and field events at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday.
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The line up of athletics greats includes Mary Onyali, Henry Amike, Gabriel Okon, Gabriel Opuama and Enefiok Udo-Obong among others.
“We are happy with the job done by the screening committee to ensure that true U-20s are the ones participating in Benin City.
“We’re going to be meticulous in beaming the searchlight on very talented younger athletes that are being showcased at the Games”, he said amidst the din of cheers that trailed the completion of the 400m hurdles final.
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Enakhena recalled that at the last edition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, 644 athletes were identified as having the potentials to thrive in the future.
He believes that there exists a possibility to exceed that number given that the states are beginning to embrace the vision of going to the grassroots to discover budding talents.
“To make this happen, we’ve put together experienced coaches and scouts. Blessing Oborududu leads wrestling scouts and Rolake Olagbegi-Kassim leads tennis. She was the first Nigerian female professional tennis player and the first to win Gold and Silver medals at the All-African Games. The longest serving NPFL player, Victor Ezeji will lead the football scouts, amongst others”, he disclosed.
The NDG has been programmed to provide a platform for states in the region to discover, test and nurture indigenous budding talents to become national and international champions.
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The games is organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo and sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
The 2024 Paris Games revitalized what those five recognizable Olympic rings mean as a symbol of athletic competition, global community, ambition and achievement on the world’s stage. As soon as the most recent Summer Games concluded, the reviews were near-universal in agreement. The Olympics were officially back, with Paris’ moment widely recognized as one of the best Games in history for a bevy of irresistible reasons: the jaw-dropping backdrops and unique stages for competition; the record-setting performances; the star power drawn in by one of the most famous cities in the world; and, crucially, the return of a normal Olympics after COVID had severe impacts on the previous two.
The just-concluded Milan Cortina Games couldn’t hit the same highs or have quite the same worldwide reach of the Paris Games — the Summer Olympics will always out-rate Winter — but all medals and moments considered, what we just watched over the past 16 days immediately vaults this fortnight competition near the top of the list of the best Winter Games of all time.
What’s more, for the first time since Vancouver in 2010, the world’s best cold-weather athletes competed in a place that was both visually stimulating for TV watchers and viewership-friendly in the United States.
As for the U.S. delegation, this has to be regarded as the country’s greatest go on snow and ice ever. Those in red, white and blue put on an epic showing, with Americans bringing home 12 gold medals, the most in any Winter Olympics. The 33 total medals were four off their best haul during those Vancouver Games 16 years ago.
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My primary gig for CBS Sports is to write and talk about men’s college basketball, but longtime readers know all too well how much I love the Olympics. And even in the midst of what I think will wind up being an all-time season in college hoops, I had my attention split for two weeks between American hardwood and Italian ice due to the gorgeous vistas, powerful storylines, emerging star power and ever-reliable drama that came across my TV screen with 16 disciplines in eight sports taking place an ocean and a continent away.
The redemption stories and breakout stars and anguishing images of failure that developed over two-plus weeks in the mountains of Northern Italy produced enough narratives to fill a 500-page novel. I’ll go much shorter than that, but please join me on a look back at the stars and moments that made the Milan Cortina Games one of the best Winter Olympics ever.
Team USA sweeps hockey gold
We start with ice hockey. The United States men’s and women’s teams won gold in the same Olympics for the first time, which is a monumental achievement in its own right. But then consider the details: The two teams did it three days apart in games, in games that that both ended 2-1, in games that both reached overtime, in games that both downed a perfect rival, Canada.
It’s only the third time men’s hockey has won the Olympic tournament; 1960 being the first. The 1980 team has been subject to documentaries. Both of these champions will be as well.
Mikaela Shiffrin’s redemption arc
Mikaela Shiffrin, 30 years old and far from finished in her one-of-a-kind career, has become one of my favorite athletes. Shiffrin got the third Olympic gold medal of her career on Feb. 18, but it was the only one of these Games. It came in her best discipline, the slalom, and in staggering fashion. Shiffrin exorcised her previous eight non-podium skis in the Olympics by winning her two slalom races by 1.50 seconds, marking the largest margin of victory in an Alpine Olympic event since 1998. The gap in her win was so large, it was actually a longer amount of time than the advantage of the six previous Olympic slalom winners — COMBINED!
She entered Milan as the only two-time slalom gold medalist in U.S. history. And now Shiffrin is the first Team USA skier to ever win three gold medals, too. She was already the youngest (18 in 2014) to win the women’s slalom event at the Olympics, and with last week’s gold she’s also now the oldest to ever do it as well. One barrier after another, broken.
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She did it after failing to medal in giant slalom and also shockingly blowing a first-place lead in the Olympics debut of the team combined event with teammate Breezy Johnson — whose downhill gold was one of the United States’ 12. Shiffrin responded with one of the best races of her life. She earned it not because of the hard work, but because of how she so willingly put herself out there, time and again, with her struggles.
Every time I heard Shiffrin talk, or saw one of her social posts, it was nothing but positivity, affirmation of teammates and competitors and transparency over accepting the challenges of these moments, of living through them instead of going against them. When she won gold last week, cameras caught her expression, goggles still over the eyes, and the first word out of her mouth?
Dad.
I almost cried when I watched it live.
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Shiffrin unexpectedly lost her father to an accident in 2020. She’d won races since then, and had high-profile failures too. But winning a medal on the Olympic stage hadn’t happened since he passed. Her honesty at her medal-winning press conference about processing grief is something everyone should watch.
Women provided so many inspirational performances
Johnson, not only won gold here, she did so on the course that was the stage of a pre-Olympics crash in 2022 that caused her to miss the Beijing Games. And so not only did she make a grand comeback at 30, she also got engaged after her final race.
The Netherlands’ speedskating duo of Femke Kok and Jutta Leerdam each won a gold and a silver and they have flipped a niche sport into must-see competition. They are bona fide uber celebrities in their home country, where speedskating is treated there like football is in the States. Italian Arianna Fontana made history by competing in her final Olympics at 35 and winning a gold and two silvers in short track speedskating, and finishing with a medal at six straight Olympics. No one else has ever done that! She’s got 14 medals to her name, second most ever to Norways Marit Bjøgen’s 15.
Speaking of peaking at the end: Elana Meyers Taylor competed in her fifth Olympics and finally, as a 41-year-old mom of two, won her first gold in the monobob. Imagine hitting the peak of your athletic life after the age of 40? Lindsey Vonn tried to do that, only to see it end in disaster. But Vonn’s tragic final Olympic race — which has required three surgeries already and will need at least one more — served as a scary reminder of the very real stakes of competition in the Winter Olympics. Nothing compares.
Men who seemed to be immortal, and a ‘God’ who proved to be human
American speedskater Jordan Stolz hoped for four medals, perhaps even four golds, but came away with two and a silver. His pair of individual first-place finishes represented the only American to pull off the feat in Italy. Stolz was a breakout star, though his failure to medal in Saturday’s mass start means he’ll likely enter 2030 as the male face of Team USA while also having all the motivational storylines to set up what could be his grand Olympic moment.
The same can be said of the Quad God, Ilia Malinin, whose failed routine in the men’s free skate goes as the biggest stunner of them all at these Games. A shocking reminder that, although there is so much storytelling attached to the Olympics, the Games can never be scripted.
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But they sure are sculpted. Norwegian cross-country skier Johannes Høsflot Klæbo might be one of the 10 most fit humans on the planet. Cross-country skiing isn’t a sport so much as it is an action in pain tolerance. Klæbo has done the impossible and become a global star. His six gold medals over a two-week span are a Winter Olympics record. He skied almost 62 miles in Italy. The 29-year-old joins Michael Phelps as the only Olympians ever to have double-digit gold medals (Klæbo now has 11; Phelps is untouchable with 23). Klæbo’s six helped get Norway to the top of medal table; the country finished with 18 golds and 41 overall, both records.
Klæbo wasn’t the only cross-country skier to earn big headlines. The weirdest story of the Games goes to his countryman, Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who decided to cry and admit to being a cheater on television, only to see the story go global. To date, there is no indication he’s won back his ex-girlfriend. (Seriously, man. What was the plan here? Yikes!)
There was the glory of Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who won the first medal (a gold, nonetheless) for a South American country in a Winter Olympics ever, and then celebrated with an instantly iconic gesture atop the podium after winning the freestyle skiing competition.
The bravest moment of the Games didn’t happen on any course, ice, snow or field of competition. Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych was not allowed to compete in skeleton after he refused to compete in anything other than the helmet that bore the images of his fellow Ukranian athletes who were killed in the Russian invasion in recent years. By trying not to make a political statement, the IOC wound up making one anyway and Heraskevych emerged as a disappointed but principled and proud hero who was as clear-eyed in his pursuits as any of the 2,800-plus Olympians who earned invites to Italy.
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I loved American snowboarder Nick Baumgartner, a 44-year-old with the spirit of a happy kid. He’s still going for medals in snowboard cross, and he very much intends to be back in four years. If he can do it, so can Austrian Benjamin Karl, who won gold as a 40-year-old and celebrated by going topless.
Why next two Winter Games will likely top 2026
Here’s one major reason I’ve long loved the Winter Olympics: the skill it takes to be the greatest in the world in the toughest of settings. For the most part, no sports are tougher on mind and body. The big rule of these Games is that all competition must take place on the surface of snow or ice. And so there they went on those slippery surfaces every day. Downhill skiers barreling down an icy mountain piste at 80-plus miles per hour. Snowboarders and freestyle skiers scooping themselves dozens of feet in the air above a halfpipe. Balancing on the thinnest of edges while skating on ice, or uncorking acrobatics wonders before gracefully landing on a slim slab of riveted silver, those who put blades below their feet continued to push the boundaries of what is physically possible.
Luge, skeleton and bobsleigh athletes throw themselves down verglas slides on sleds at speeds going faster than the legal limit on most American highways. Others endure organ-bursting snow pursuits in cross-country skiing, or take on heart-stopping flight risks in a variety of ski and snowboard aerial competitions.
It’s truly some of the most thrilling athletic competition known to man.
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And I think we just witnessed an all-timer of an Olympics.
Now scroll back up and look at the names of the athletes that medaled. So many of them will be back, as will the likes of Eileen Gu, Chloe Kim and more. The United States outperformed expectations here in 2026. In four years, Stolz, Malinin, Shiffrin, Liu and more to come onto the scene will have gold medal expectations. In ice hockey, the American rivalries with Canada are sure to hit all-time highs.
The Winter Olympics are in the midst of a revival, and this is merely Phase 1. The next will hit big in France in 2030, and then just wait. In 2034, Salt Lake City will again play host after 32 years, and with it, the culmination of a renaissance on ice and snow both for the United States and the world.
Ronyell Whitaker #27 of the Minnesota Vikings smiles before a football game against the Washington Redskins on Sept. 11, 2006 at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.(Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
“Born on March 19, 1979, Ronyell lived a life marked by passion, perseverance and purpose,” the statement read. “A gifted athlete, he proudly played high school football for Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where his talent, determination and leadership on the field made a lasting impact.”
Whitaker was a standout player at Virginia Tech before he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003 as an undrafted free agent. He played four games for the Buccaneers and bounced from the main roster and the practice squad until 2005 when he was waived.
He signed with the Vikings in 2006. He played 27 games for Minnesota and had 31 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up.
Ronyell Whitaker of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers poses for his 2005 NFL headshot at photo day in Tampa, Florida. (Getty Images)
Whitaker tried to continue his career with the Detroit Lions but never saw the field for them. He also played in NFL Europe and was on the roster of the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“His journey didn’t end there,” Whitaker’s family said. “He was a defensive backs coach at Chanhassen High School from 2014-18 and was the CEO/Owner of privately-owned Whitaker Group, LLC, specializing in relocation transactions and short sales since 2011.
“While many knew him for his athletic accomplishments, those closest to him knew him best for his generous heart, unwavering loyalty and deep love for his family. He was a protector, a mentor and a source of strength and laughter to all who had the blessing of knowing him.”
Whitaker’s family asked for privacy in the wake of his death.
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Ronyell Whitaker #27 of the Minnesota Vikings tries to get by Fred Smoot #27 of the Washington Redskins during an NFL game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Dec. 23, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Tom Dahlin/Getty Images)
“During this incredibly difficult time, we ask for prayers, love and privacy as our family grieves this tremendous loss and celebrates the life of a man who meant so much to so many.”
The Raiders are on the clock and need help across the board, but quarterback is the first order of business. Fernando Mendoza capped an impressive season with a national championship in Indiana’s RPO-based offense and a strong postseason run that showcased his consistency and clutch throws in gotta-have-it moments. Mendoza makes smart decisions, throws with accuracy and touch, and creates and extends plays outside the pocket and under duress. He’s a high-level processor who reads defenses quickly and anticipates windows to deliver advantage throws that move the chains.
Ohio State’s Reese is a nice piece for a franchise with plenty of holes to fill, offering the versatility to play in the box as well as rush off the edge. He brings elite twitch and instincts, along with the size and length to hold up in multiple spots across the defense. Reese is extremely athletic as a part-time rusher and can convert speed to power while using a strong long arm. The Jets need pass rushers, and Reese gives them a bookend opposite Will McDonald IV. If he goes this high, his long-term projection is likely on the edge. His pass-rushing capabilities carry a high ceiling with more reps and time on task.
The Cardinals could upgrade at right tackle, and Mauigoa excelled during the Hurricanes’ playoff run while serving as a model of consistency over the past two seasons. He’s thickly built with excellent power and moves defenders at will in the run game. Mauigoa is above average in pass protection, showing good technique and the feet to get to his spot and play in space. He offers some positional versatility and can kick inside if needed, but he’ll no doubt get first crack at right tackle to start. He also brings strong leadership and extensive experience as a three-year starter at Miami.
Bain was as dominant a defensive lineman as we’ve seen since Will Anderson Jr. at Alabama. He brings elite power in both phases and wins as an excellent technician with his hands, beating opponents with physicality or finesse. Bain has a high motor, plays the game the right way and shows strong attention to detail. His measurements might not wow everyone, but his film is elite, and he offers versatility to kick inside in pass-rushing situations if needed. New Titans coach Robert Saleh has to be licking his chops.
Fano plays with good technique, has excellent feet and shows the ability to play both tackle spots. He didn’t allow a sack this season and surrendered only six hurries. His best days are still ahead, but he brings power at the point of attack, the ability to move defenders in the run game and the athleticism to pull and clear out defenders at the second level. Fano would step in at right tackle, giving the Giants another piece to protect Jaxson Dart.
You have to believe the Browns will use free agency and multiple picks to upgrade an aging offensive line. Tate brings extensive experience and the ability to win anywhere on the field. He’s a polished route runner who tracks and high-points the ball in contested-catch situations. Tate is a dependable, trustworthy receiver with strong hands who moves the chains and gives Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders a weapon to help jumpstart the offense.
Bailey is a natural pass rusher who wins with speed off the edge and shows exceptional quickness in condensed spaces. He’s a dynamic player who can wreck a game and has slightly improved his run defense this season. His highest upside comes as a pure pass rusher, thanks to his explosive get-off and twitch off the edge. The Commanders’ pass rush last season was one of the worst in the league.
Tyson tracks the ball exceptionally well in the air and shows great contact balance after the catch to maximize YAC. He has the long speed to beat press coverage and the ability to thrive in the middle of the field and in the red zone. Tyson battled a hamstring injury, and teams will study his medicals closely.
Faulk has ideal size and length, along with the ability to rush from anywhere along the defensive front. His stats don’t tell the full story given the attention he drew, but he still finished with 30 hurries. A slippery rusher with a good get-off and excellent hands, he’s also solid against the run, showing the ability to set the edge and knock back offensive tackles.
The Bengals defense — especially the back end — had a rough season, but help is on the way. A high-IQ leader and alpha presence, he excels in both phases. He can erase tight ends, holds up as a run defender in the box and tackles well in space.
Jeff Hafley likely targets a corner here, and Delane was arguably the nation’s best at the position, and one of the top defensive players in the country, this season. He’s been an eraser in coverage thanks to his suddenness and change of direction, has good speed and the ability to battle for the ball, and is a competitive player who should transition well to the next level despite lacking ideal measurables.
Love is my favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and the best overall player in the draft. He shows exceptional vision and patience, is a weapon as a receiver and brings home-run ability every time he touches the ball. Love has outstanding lateral quickness and explosiveness and gives me Bijan Robinson vibes every time I watch him. Future superstar.
As great as Matthew Stafford is playing, you have to start thinking about a replacement, and Simpson is a no-brainer QB2 who could have teams like the Jets considering a trade up to snatch him. He stands to benefit from a weak quarterback class and brings promising traits. Simpson arguably has the most upside in the class despite struggling in the second half of the season at Alabama without much of a running game or consistent protection. He has a strong arm, can attack all areas of the field with velocity and touch, processes quickly, anticipates well and layers throws to every level. His lack of experience will be his biggest hurdle to overcome.
The Ravens need a complementary receiver to pair with Zay Flowers, and Lemon has the traits to eventually become a No. 1 option down the road. He’s an explosive playmaker who can stretch the field not only as a receiver but also as a kick returner. A dynamic player with a defensive mentality, he was USC’s go-to option in must-have moments. Lemon brings top-end speed, physicality and strong hands with impressive range.
The Buccaneers need to replace an aging Lavonte David, and Styles would be an ideal fit if he’s still available here, given his exceptional athletic traits. He’s an every-down backer with ideal size and length in the box who excels in all phases. Fluid in coverage, he understands leverage and matches up with backs and tight ends. He also shows great range against the run, sifts through traffic to reach the ball carrier and finishes as a sure tackler.
If the Jets can’t land a quarterback, they’ll look to upgrade their defensive front, and Hunter would fit well as a 2i in their scheme. He was a massive upgrade up front for the Red Raiders, taking on doubles and letting their linebackers roam and make plays. He shows good lateral movement and quickness on stunts and games, along with the ability to crush the pocket as a rusher. Hunter is an effective pass rusher who finished with a couple sacks and 19 hurries.
The Lions need to add a few offensive linemen with retirements and injury concerns surrounding Taylor Decker. Freeling is a long, athletic left tackle and one of the few true pure left tackles in this year’s draft. He shows good feet and the versatility to play either tackle spot. A solid run blocker with a big frame and good hand usage, Freeling moves well in space and at the second level and offers a nice ceiling.
I’m not a big fan of projecting a first-round player who didn’t take a snap in 2025, but this is a weak year for corners and the Vikings need help on the island. McCoy showed good length and the ability to play man coverage and will be fully healthy in 2026. He also displayed a smooth backpedal, breaks quickly on routes and has excellent hands.
A massive, disruptive run stuffer who has been a force for the stingy Buckeye defense, McDonald is a powerful player with good lateral quickness on stunts and exceptional strength at the point of attack. He can crush the pocket but needs to continue developing as a pass rusher. He’d be a nice pairing with Derrick Brown.
The Cowboys need an upgrade at linebacker, and Allen brings veteran leadership and production as a force in the box stuffing the run. He offers versatility and profiles as a Day 1 starter for a back end that needs an upgrade.
Proctor is an XXL human who settled in last year and had his best season for the Tide. I’d kick Proctor inside to guard, where I think he can excel based on his skill set. He mauls defenders in the run game, has shown improved consistency in protection and should benefit from stronger coaching and attention to detail with his technique at the next level.
The Chargers value size, and Loane is my favorite interior prospect. He’s a mauler in the run game who elevated his play in protection in 2025, allowing just three pressures all season. He’s a physical player who looks to break an opponent’s will and plays through the whistle. Loane is a better athlete in space than he gets credit for and is a solid puller who can erase defenders.
It feels like A.J. Brown could be on the move, and Branch can replace some of that production as a No. 2 receiver. He had his most productive season yet, catching 73 passes for nearly 750 yards with 17 explosive plays. Branch is elusive in space and can start and stop on a dime to make defenders miss. He also returns punts and kickoffs and is always a threat to take it the distance whenever he touches the ball.
Myles Garrett and the Browns’ defense would become even more dominant if they pair him with another skilled pass rusher. Howell wins with speed and a strong long arm, and he counters inside when tackles overset. He plays with a great motor and shows natural pass-rush instincts. Howell also has the twitch and get-off to create problems.
The Bears love size and length on the defensive line, and nobody sets the edge like Young, a disruptive presence with ideal length and pop. He offers a strong pass-rush profile as a strong-side edge, blending speed and power with an effective long arm.
The Bills could use more weaponry on offense, and Concepcion would be an explosive addition for Josh Allen. He’s dangerous on screens and slants, with the ability to break tackles, maximize gains and stretch the defense vertically. Concepcion shows good acceleration to separate after the catch and attacks the ball in the air. He’s also a weapon as a returner, with the threat to score any time he touches it.
San Francisco would immediately improve up front with Woods, especially with much of the front sidelined for most of the 2025 season. Woods looks the part and has impressive traits, but he didn’t deliver a standout season despite the hype. He shows good power and leverage at the point of attack to handle double teams, along with solid lateral quickness on stunts and games to get home.
Sadiq is a fluid mover who runs like a big wide receiver, with the natural ability to catch the ball away from his body and get north. He gets open, finds soft spots in coverage and is a dependable target you can count on to make plays. Sadiq offers big-play potential after the catch and is also a very solid blocker.
The Rams are likely in the market for an offensive lineman, and Lomu offers good value here along with positional versatility. He’s an experienced left tackle who brings the blindside experience teams look for. Lomu has good feet and plays with strong technique on the edge. He’s a solid run blocker with good lateral movement and knee bend, allowing him to maximize his lower-body explosion.
A big-bodied receiver who profiles more as a possession target capable of bodying up defenders than a true deep threat. He has very dependable hands and is a contested-catch, red-zone nightmare for defenders. Boston works the middle of the field and the sidelines well and finished the season with just one drop.
Mesidor shows excellent bend and motor and plays with polished technique as a pass rusher. He uses his hands and hips to finish, has an outstanding first step off the ball and has been one of the most disruptive players in the country. He lacks ideal measurables on the edge, but the film doesn’t lie — an absolute game wrecker and the most NFL-ready pass rusher in the class from a technical standpoint.
Brazell gives the Seahawks a nice complementary receiver to pair with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He can beat press coverage, stretch the field and provide a big target who becomes a red-zone and contested-catch nightmare. Brazell also delivered a strong rebound season at Tennessee after a productive career at Tulane.
A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.
Jordan Woodruff
Cloud9 blanked Sentinels 3-0 to win the upper-bracket final and lock up the first spot in the grand final of the League Championship Series 2026 Lock-In on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Cloud9 prevailed in 32 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 minutes to sweep the best-of-five. Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen of Denmark led Cloud9 with a 16-3-24 kills-deaths-assists ratio, while American Eain “APA” Stearns was close behind his teammate with a 15-5-23 K-D-A.
Sentinels still have a chance for revenge in the grand final on March 1. They fell into the lower-bracket final and will face the winner between semifinalists LYON and Team Liquid to determine who meets Cloud9 for the grand prize.
Following the eight-team Swiss stage, there are six teams competing in the double-elimination playoffs, and all matches are best-of-five. The overall winner on March 1 qualifies for the 2026 First Stand Tournament.
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Ibrahim “GaKGoS” Bulut of Turkey paced FlyQuest with an 8-13-4 K-D-A ratio.
Matchday 27 of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League saw key results as teams battled for points at both ends of the table.
Abia Warriors 1-0 Kwara United
Casmir Azubuike’s 29th-minute speculative cross secured all three points for Abia Warriors, ending their five-game winless run. Kwara United dominated possession in the second half, but Abia Warriors’ defence, led by stand-in captain Emmanuel Ogbuagu, held firm. The Warriors will face El-Kanemi Warriors next Sunday.
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Wikki Tourists 2-1 Remo Stars
Wikki Tourists claimed a narrow victory over Remo Stars to strengthen their league position.
Warri Wolves 0-0 Barau FC
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Both sides shared the points after a goalless draw.
Kun Khalifat FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
Kun Khalifat secured a 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes.
Katsina United 0-0 Rangers International
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Rangers International and Katsina United played out a 0-0 draw.
Plateau United 4-1 Shooting Stars
Plateau United recorded the biggest win of the round, defeating Shooting Stars 4-1.
Nasarawa United 1-0 Bendel Insurance
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Nasarawa United edged Bendel Insurance 1-0 to pick up three points.
Kano Pillars 3-0 El-Kanemi Warriors
Kano Pillars impressed with a 3-0 win over El-Kanemi Warriors.
Ikorodu City FC 1-1 Bayelsa United
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Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Rivers United 1-1 Enyimba FC
Enyimba FC, under new Head Coach Emmanuel Gustave Deutsch, drew 1-1 with Rivers United. Abiodun Joseph scored for Enyimba before Rivers United equalised.
With the season entering its decisive phase, Matchday 27 results have intensified the race at both the top and bottom of the NPFL table.
As expected, Team Canada was not happy standing on the ice receiving their silver medals in Milan after Jack Hughes’ overtime game-winner to give Team USA gold.
Canadian star Nathan MacKinnon made an interesting comment after the game that sparked debate on social media.
“You be the judge of who was the better team today,” the Team Canada assistant captain and Colorado Avalanche star said, via the Canadian Press.
Nathan MacKinnon #29 of Team Canada look dejected following the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
MacKinnon seemingly implied that Canada was the better team despite the result. Sure, they outshot the U.S., 42-28, and they were certainly in control of the puck more throughout the three periods in Milan.
It even took some heroics from Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to keep the game tied at one goal apiece, including a miraculous stick save on Devon Toews point-blank chance in the second period.
But there were also a few miscues from Canada, and MacKinnon had a major one with 10:50 left in the third period. Hellebuyck was completely beat when the puck was swung over to MacKinnon, who had a wide-open net to work with. All he had to do was put it between the pipes and Canada would’ve taken a 2-1 lead.
Instead, his shot hit the short side of the net, and Team USA caught a break as one of the best goalscorers in the world was denied by his own error. It’s one of those moments where MacKinnon may be thinking, “What if?” considering how the game ended.
Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Hellebuyck during Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Figure Ice Hockey final match Canada vs United States at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan on Feb. 22, 2026.(Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto)
With both sides stuck in a draw after three periods, the Olympic overtime rules are that of the NHL regular season – 3-on-3 sudden death hockey. For Team USA, this format benefitted them considering what was happening in the second and third periods, with Canada handling them on both ends of the ice.
Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics
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But MacKinnon once again made a grave mistake in overtime, as it didn’t seem he was anticipating defenseman Zach Weresnki flying into him in the offensive zone after Hughes pushed the puck up into Canada’s zone.
MacKinnon could’ve charged harder on the puck, but Werenski came away with it instead and slung it over for Hughes, who buried it past Jordan Binnington for the golden goal.
Silver medalist Nathan MacKinnon of Team Canada shows dejection during the medal ceremony following the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
So, while stats and other metrics may say Team Canada was the better team on the ice, it only matters in key moments. And, of course, the scoreboard at the final whistle.
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As Team USA celebrates their first Olympic gold medal since the 1980 miracle-on-ice in Lake Placid, Team Canada can only head back to their respective cities thinking about what went wrong in the end.
A video has emerged of a wrestler attacking a female fan in the middle of the match, with former WWE star Andrade involved in the chaos.
On February 20, House of Glory Wrestling held the No Turning Back event at a sold-out NYC Arena. The match card saw Andrade take on HOG Heavyweight Champion Charles Mason.
Thanks for the submission!
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After leaving WWE and returning to All Elite Wrestling, the former NXT champion has undergone a character change. He’s been depicted as something of a Casanova, someone who casually steps away mid-match to snap photos with women sitting ringside.
Thus, he decided to do the same thing during his title match against Charles Mason. As the 36-year-old star was done clicking a selfie with a female fan, the HOG Champion took exception to his antics.
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WWE Just Spoiled Masked Man’s Identity? Check Here!
Charles Mason charged in and hit the woman with a big boot right in the face, leaving fans shocked.
You can check the moment from 10 seconds onwards in the clip below:
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This triggered the former WWE United States champion, and he retaliated with a big boot of his own to Mason. He then sent his opponent back into the ring before checking on the female fan.
It is likely that the fan was a plant, placed exactly for the spot from Mason. The contest ended in a count out win for Andrade, meaning Mason retained his Heavyweight Championship.
Andrade referenced The Usos after helping real-life Bloodline member
House of Glory Wrestling’s No Turning Back also saw other AEW talent in action, with MJF defending his AEW World Title against real-life Anoa’i Bloodline member Zilla Fatu.
After MJF retained the Championship, Andrade showed up and helped Zilla take him out. Following this, he took to X to greet Zilla and referenced The Usos.
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He said he did it for Jimmy and YEET (Jey Uso), before reiterating that his eyes are set on MJF’s AEW World Championship.
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