Darius Acuff Jr. is no stranger to making history. This season, the 19-year-old Arkansas point guard became the first player to lead the SEC in both points and assists since Pete Maravich in 1970, and third to win both freshman and player of the year.
Indeed, pretty much everything about Acuff screams superstar. He’s more than an electric basketball player. There’s an icy cool charisma to him — the kind Reebok believes is ready to be the face of a franchise, as the company announced on Tuesday that it has signed Acuff to a signature shoe deal (meaning he will have his own shoe when he takes the court for his first NBA game), marking the first time that has ever happened for a male athlete that is still in college.
Anyone who gets the “HIM” endorsement from Allen Iverson is true-hooper stamped, but a necessary caveat is that it is Iverson’s jojb to sell the world on Acuff’s impending stardom. He’s Reebok’s vice president of basketball. For now, this is just marketing. There are no guarantees. What kind of actual NBA player Acuff turns out to be, both in the short and long term, remains to be seen.
And that’s where this gets interesting. Or, if you’re the team that ends up drafting Acuff with a top-five pick, potentially dangerous. Acuff represents what has become the league’s most precarious positional archetype: The small, score-first point guard who can’t defend.
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Now, before we go any further, a couple disclaimers. First, Acuff isn’t that small. He’s listed anywhere from 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-3, and at 190 pounds he’s built like an old-school SEC running back — his sturdy frame and straight-line strength is actually one of his most devastating attributes, at least against college players. Yes, he’ll be undersized in a lot of NBA point guard matchups, but so is Jalen Brunson, who one league scout told CBS Sports is one of Acuff’s better NBA comps.
“If you’re going with the more high-end outcomes [for Acuff’s career], I suppose there’s some Damian Lillard in there. Maybe a bigger, stronger Keyonte George on a little bit of the lower end,” the Western Conference scout said, noting the “natural fade” to a lot of Acuff’s midrange pull-ups that remind him of George.
“But yeah, I think Brunson is a probably a good example [of what Acuff can become], just with the way they use their leverage; they get you on their hip, get that shoulder into you, and from there you can’t get them off their line. … Remember, nobody projected Brunson to become what he has. We said the same things, right? Too small. How’s he gonna guard? But there’s no backdown in that guy. … It’s hard to go wrong betting on those kinds of guys.”
Indeed, Brunson is an interesting comp for Acuff — not just for the size and skill similarities (Acuff is a better athlete) but through the prism of defensive deficiency. Even as great as Brunson is offensively, there’s still a question as to whether he can be the best player on a championship team as a weak-link defender, even as the Knicks have tried to insulate him with long wings and rim protection.
Which brings us to the second disclaimer: we don’t know that Acuff can’t defend. We only know that he hasn’t chosen to yet.
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It’s partly, if not largely, an awareness issue on tape — he can look like a chicken with his head cut off away from the ball. But in theory, he has the athleticism and physicality to pull his weight. Maybe he’ll figure it out in the NBA. So far, the evidence is not terribly encouraging.
Last Saturday, Acuff had absolutely no chance of staying in front of High Point point guard Rob Martin, but neither did anyone else. Martin is a human bullet. You give that guy a head of steam and 90% of defenders, even NBA ones, are going to become a billboard on an F1 track.
Again, it was the effort and focus lapses that stood out. Acuff’s screen navigation is a real problem. The want-to just isn’t there. He’s too content to fall out of the play, which wouldn’t seem to be in keeping with all the “tough competitor” praise he gets. Watch here as he takes the scenic route around two picks on which he isn’t even touched, just to lazily trail from behind as Martin cruises in for a layup.
Even when Acuff did manage to stay attached to Martin, he still got powered through at the rim by a guy who is generously listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds.
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The flip side to this, of course, is that like Brunson, Acuff gives it right back to you — and then some — on the offensive end. He put 36 on High Point. Scored 12 of Arkansas’ final 15 points. Turned a tie game with three minutes to play into a 90-83 lead with a personal 7-0 run. The clutch gene is evident. You can’t teach it. Acuff has it.
Through two NCAA tournament games, Acuff has racked up 60 points and 13 assists. Chris Paul is the only other freshman since 1973 to open his NCAA Tournament career with consecutive 20-point/5-assist games. There would appear to be almost no doubt that Acuff is going to be an offensive weapon at the next level, perhaps even a deadly one.
🏀 Darius Acuff Jr.’s sizzling NCAA Tournament
Stat / Feat
Context
36 points vs. High Point
Second-most by a frosh in NCAA tourney history (De’Aaron Fox, 39)
60 points through first two NCAA Tournament games
Most ever by a freshman through two tournament games
30+ PPG, 5+ APG through two games
First player to hit those marks since Jimmer Fredette in 2011
Multiple 20+ point, 5+ assist games
Joins Chris Paul (2004) and Derrick Rose (08) as only frosh to do it
The NBA, generally speaking, does not value this type of one-way player — particularly as the face of a franchise — the way it did even five years ago. Trae Young’s outsized salary just got dumped. Nobody wants to touch Ja Morant. It’s hard to imagine any team paying Tyler Herro $130 million today, but in 2022 the Heat did.
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Even closer to the roster margins, teams are largely moving away from one-way scorers who bring little else to the table. Cam Thomas is a walking bucket and he just got waived by the Bucks. Jordan Poole has averaged 20 points per game over a season two times and is basically a castoff. Jonathan Kuminga dominated playoff games as a scorer, yet could hardly crack Steve Kerr’s rotation before he was shipped to the Hawks. Collin Sexton was an elite scorer in college and has remained a very good one in the NBA, and nobody is handing him the keys to their team.
“I suppose there’s some Damian Lillard in there.”
NBA scout on Darius Acuff Jr’s NBA potential
There are exceptions. If your name is Luka Dončić, Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, prime James Harden or Lillard, or certainly the aforementioned Brunson, a lot of these size and/or defensive flaws will be tolerated. It begs the question: Is Acuff’s offense that great?
“[It] has a chance to be, in my opinion,” a separate scout told CBS Sports. “It’s not just because of what he does with the ball, but he can [play] off it, too. That’s become so important. I mean look around, how many teams do you see playing that Luka style anymore, where you’re just giving it to one guy and letting him play pick and roll all game long? It’s not many.”
It’s true. Context matters. You’re a lot more exposed as a defensive liability when you’re the face of a team, especially right out of the gate. Keyonte George has it easier than Trae Young did in Atlanta. George isn’t the best player in Utah. At best, he’ll be the third-best player next year. Plus, the Jazz have built their roster to insulate him with bigs everywhere, trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. to put alongside Walker Kessler and Lauri Markannen. And George, an electric scorer, still might be a problem when they start trying to win games. Maybe we’ll find out next year. It’s an interesting litmus test.
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For Acuff, a situation like Dallas would be perfect. He wouldn’t be the best player on the team (that would be Cooper Flagg), and Kyrie Irving would allow him to ease into his career in the same way that De’Aaron Fox is doing for Dylan Harper, the second overall pick in 2025, in San Antonio.
CBS Sports lead draft scout Adam Finkelstein has Acuff going in the six to eight range, which is Jazz/Mavericks/Grizzlies/Hawks territory. Would the Jazz put Acuff alongside George, or take him with the plan to move George? The Hawks have a good shot at a mid-lottery pick, too (via New Orleans’ or Milwaukee’s pick), but would they make another bet on a player like Acuff after just having punted on Young? Maybe. Maybe not. Every organization is looking out a different window.
“You try not to put a lot of stock in these generic prototypes, as far as where the league is going or what kinds of players are en vogue at whatever moment,” one Western Conference exec told CBS Sports. “It wasn’t that long ago that centers were supposed to be dying. Everyone was going small. Now everyone is looking for size again. … You really have to just go case by case. What’s good for one team might not be a fit for another. Do the strengths outweigh the weaknesses? And then, can the weaknesses be improved?”
Ah, the improvement card. It’s always a popular one to play around draft time. If you took a shot of tequila every time some analyst said the words “he needs to improve his shooting” on draft night, you’d be in the back of an ambulance before the end of the first round.
For years this led teams to use lottery picks on the likes of Michael Carter-Williams, Elfrid Payton, Kris Dunn, Emmanuel Mudiay, Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum and Frank Ntilikina — all on the assumption that their shooting would meaningfully improve. Not one of them ever made an All-Star team.
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Acuff’s lack of defensive want-to is excusable in college, but will he be pressed to change in the NBA?
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It’s not to say improvement can’t happen. Of course it can. In this regard, defense, to whatever degree your size allows, is no different than any other skill. Ben Simmons didn’t give a damn about defense in college, but in the NBA he became the portrait of modern versatility before flaming out of the league for just about every reason other than defense.
Go talk to Darren Erman about Klay Thompson. Erman was an assistant with the Warriors when Thompson came up, and he’ll tell you all the stories you want about Thompson going into the gym and working out for hours without a ball, working on his defense, his movement, his technique, anything and everything until he became one of the league’s best perimeter defenders.
Acuff doesn’t have the size of a Simmons or Thompson, but he can get better if he wants to. Curry did it. You better believe a lot of GMs are trying to make as educated a guess as possible as to whether Acuff will do the same. Like us, they’ll be watching closely when Acuff squares up against top-seeded Arizona, which has NBA players all over, in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday night.
If his defense is a wreck and the Razorbacks get spanked, will it hurt his draft stock? If he balls out and leads Arkansas into the Elite Eight, will it rise even more than it already has? It’s easy to say teams evaluate the big picture over a small sample of big-stage showings, but evidence often speaks to the contrary. Showing out in the tourney can, and does, influence even the most unemotional of evaluators.
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Acuff dropped 36 on High Point, second-most by a freshman in NCAA Tournament history.
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Sometimes knocking a your marquee audition out of the park proves to be a predictor of NBA success, as was the case with Curry and Brunson, even a Kemba Walker, to name a few tournament darlings. But for every one of those guys, there’s a Trey Burke. A Shabazz Napier. Small guys who were big-time college point guards and showed out in the tourney but never panned out in the NBA.
Acuff is almost certainly going to pan out on some level. It’s impossible to imagine him being a full-on bust. But we’re talking degrees here. He’s probably going to go in the top 10, with the expectation that he will someday soon be not just a statistical darling but an actual star who can influence winning. Those are two very different things and the league is now starkly differentiating between the two.
Which one will Acuff become? Who knows. He’s only 19-years-old. Everything is on the table. His lack of interest in playing defense is a red flag. Ultimately he will have to either fix it or find a way to be so great on offense that the defense does not matter. One team this June is going to make a huge bet Acuff can swing one of the two outcomes. It would be a lot of fun if he could do both.
Three-division world champion Gervonta Davis continues to be linked to a comeback, but a petition for him to face his number one contender may scupper his proposed fight plans, or remove him from his favourable position in the lightweight division.
Davis has not won a fight since he knocked out Frank Martin almost two years ago, drawing with Lamont Roach Jr in his solitary outing since, in what was the first blemish of his now 30-0-1 professional record.
Earlier this year, after being issued with an arrest warrant for a domestic violence charge, the WBA named ‘Tank’ ‘champion-in-recess’, meaning that he would be given the opportunity to regain his belt upon return.
In response, the WBA’s number one lightweight contender, Floyd ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield has entered a petition with the sanctioning body, lobbying for either a mandated fight with Davis or the opportunity to fight for the vacant title.
In a clip posted by FightHype, the Texan’s trainer and father, Floyd Schofield Sr, explained the situation in further detail.
“We are, right now, in a petition with the WBA to get the ‘Tank’ Davis fight mandated, because we have been the number one contender for 11 months now and didn’t get a shot.
“It is like they are skipping over us. Right now, we have got that petition going to find out what the WBA and ‘Tank’ are going to do. They are saying ‘Tank’ wants to go up to 140lbs to fight Pitbull [Isaac Cruz], but that has put us on hold.”
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Should Davis-Cruz II go ahead, it is expected to take place this summer, with coach Calvin Ford recently confirming that ‘Tank’ is back in training ahead of his return to boxing.
Despite standing as the highest-ranked program in the country as recently as Sunday, No. 3 Maryland women’s lacrosse suffered a total team collapse in one of its worst losses in recent memory.
With the Terps shooting 13.3% on the night and failing to stop No. 11 Michigan’s fiery attack, they suffered their second-largest loss since 2021. Following a 13-0 start to the season, Maryland dropped its second straight game, a 15-4 blowout defeat Thursday in Ann Arbor.
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Michigan’s prized attacker Emma Bradbury opened up the scoring 42 seconds into the contest before scoring ceased for the following eight minutes. Each team failed to score on five shot attempts during that stretch.
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Then Maryland’s offense exploded for a pair of goals. Kristen Shanahan netted the Terps’ first — a point-blank strike with seven minutes left in the opening frame — before Lauren LaPointe matched her a minute later.
But those were the only two scores it mustered in the period. Head coach Cathy Reese has emphasized a 50% shooting percentage goal for all her players, but Maryland fell well short Thursday, scoring twice on seven total attempts in the first quarter.
These misfires allowed Michigan to launch a 6-0 run on just seven shots in a six minute span. The Wolverines completely dismantled JJ Suriano, who posted a 27.2% first-half save percentage in one of her worst performances of the year as shot after shot slipped past the junior’s extended stick.
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Coming off her best offensive performance to date, Kayla Gilmore struggled to control possession in the circle during this stretch. Michigan claimed three of the five draw controls over this period and kept that aspect of the game competitive — Maryland won 11 of 20 draws.
Following the destructive run, Shanahan stopped the bleeding on yet another highlight-reel shot. The graduate student curled around the crease and was checked to the ground, but still found nylon from a seated position a meter outside the cage with 10 minutes left in the half.
However, this was the bright spot of the first half for the Terps, as a whole-field collapse settled the game. The backline only caused a single turnover over 30 minutes, and lost the first-half ground ball battle, 5-2. Meanwhile, Maryland couldn’t find the frame, only shooting 6 of 14 attempts on goal. It struggled to claw back, falling to a five-goal deficit.
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The Wolverines offensive dominance was largely due to a faulty Terp man-to-man concept. Michigan’s attackers employed isolation tactics, putting immense pressure on individual Maryland defenders to perform.
This allowed the Wolverines to continue their momentum into the third frame, scoring two goals in 13 seconds four minutes into the half.
Both recent Terp draftees struggled mightily in Thursday’s bout. Kori Edmondson logged just one point and was a large factor behind the offensive stagnation, committing three of Maryland’s 14 turnovers. Maddy Sterling stumbled in her role as well, struggling to mark Bradbury all night long and as the attacker notched four goals.
The Wolverines exploded once more in the third quarter, going on a 5-1 run with a precise 55.5% shooting percentage. Maryland outshot Michigan 10-9 in the frame, but the Terps only put four of those shots on frame and scored just once — on a LaPointe snipe with seven minutes left in the period.
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With Calli Norris securing a hat trick just two minutes into the fourth quarter, the officials instituted a running clock as Reese shrugged on the sideline. After a swift, painful fourth quarter, Maryland sulked off the field following the first loss to Michigan in program history.
Three things to know
1. Couldn’t find the net. Despite boasting one of the nation’s strongest attacks and netting double-digit goals all but once this season, the Terps failed to put the ball in the goal. A nine-save performance from Michigan’s Elizabeth Johnson combined with lackluster shooting and passing saw Maryland tying its lowest single-game goal total since 1982.
2. First round bye slipping away. The Terps have led the Big Ten standings since the start of conference play, but back-to-back losses have all but removed them from contention in the race for the lead. Even a win on Saturday at Ohio State will still likely leave Maryland in second place in the Big Ten heading into the conference tournament. 3. Mental lapses. Reese claimed that locker room vibes remained positive following the narrow loss to Northwestern and that the team was focused on cleaning up strategic and on-field errors. But after Thursday’s monumental loss, the Terps may struggle to stay positive and patch up exposed holes for a quick two-day turnaround.
The Virginia Tech Hokies have been on a roll recently on the recruiting trail. While the 2026 squad has been busy with spring practice, head coach James Franklin and his staff have hosted numerous recruits. It’s led to three commitments since March 19 — all out-of-state players and defensive linemen.
On Thursday, the Hokies added another one, as four-star defensive lineman James Buchanan became Virginia Tech’s latest commitment. Buchanan, a 6-foot-3.5, 260-pounder from the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, plays on the edge currently, but possesses the type of frame to eventually move inside.
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Several colleges were recruiting Buchanan as a defensive tackle, but will Tech give him a chance at defensive end. Buchanan weighed in on his position earlier this year.
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Here’s Buchanan’s commitment announcement:
How impressive was this addition? Regardless of position, Buchanan had offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, LSU, Georgia, Oregon and Tennessee, among others.
Again, Virginia Tech wasn’t even in the conversation for these types of players before James Franklin arrived. His arrival, alongside defensive line coach Sean Spencer and VT’s renewed commitment to football has the Hokies in a much better position moving forward.
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Spencer joins Alexander Taylor (Baltimore, Md.), Brock Frisby (Severn, Md.), and Xavier Perkins (Durham, N.C.) in Virginia Tech’s 2027 recruiting class.
With the spring game on Saturday, who knows, more good news could be coming for the Hokies.
CBS Sports NFL writer Josh Edwards predicted a trade between the Eagles and Patriots, but he does not mention Brown as part of the deal.
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Edwards recently presented a mock draft that featured the Eagles trading their No. 23 pick to the Patriots. In return, Philadelphia received the No. 31 pick along with some undisclosed additional terms. This trade enabled New England to choose Arizona State right tackle Max Iheanachor.
“There was a viral clip going around of Mike Vrabel inciting Max Iheanachor to put his hands on him (which is more common than fans may expect, especially among defensive coaches),” Edwards wrote on Thursday. “If New England is going to nab a right tackle, it will require them to trade up a bit in this scenario because several are off the board.”
If this trade goes down during the draft, everyone is going to go crazy when they hear that the Eagles have made a deal with the Patriots. However, they’ll likely feel a bit let down when they realize that Brown won’t be included.
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The trade may prompt the two teams to discuss Brown after the draft, but it’s unlikely to happen before June 1. At that point, the Eagles would only face a $16 million dead cap hit for Brown, rather than the $43 million penalty they would incur if they traded him before June 2.
Shakur Stevenson is one of the most skilled fighters in the sport today, but in the eyes of world-class trainer, Robert Garcia, there is one fellow American he believes could be the man to hand the Newark southpaw his first career defeat.
However, whilst the newly-crowned WBO super-lightweight world champion may be recognised as one of the most talented operators in the world of boxing, he currently lacks the star power to convince some of the sport’s superstars into a fight.
Should he decide to move up, Robert Garcia thinks that reigning WBO welterweight world champion, Devin Haney, could get the better of Stevenson due to his physical advantages, as well as his boxing skills, he told BoxingScene.
“It is not an easy fight for Shakur, that is why he is not chasing that one. He knows that is a dangerous fight, especially if they do it at welterweight.
“He wants it at a catchweight but if Haney is a champion at welterweight, then fight him at welterweight. I don’t think that Shakur is big enough, like [Floyd] Mayweather was at one point, where he could say ‘I want you at this weight division’.”
“If the fight does happen, it happens at welterweight. Shakur might not want to do that because it is going to be very dangerous for him, fighting a big guy like that. Haney can fight, Haney is fast, Haney has got decent power, too.”
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“I do see Haney being the bigger man and maybe I would give Haney the advantage but it’s an interesting fight – a fight that I would like to see.”
Haney seemed destined to fight WBA champion Rolando Romero in a welterweight title unification until talks recently collapsed and the potential announcement of Garcia-Benn seems to have left ‘The Dream’ out in the cold, as he searches for a first fight of 2026.
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (21) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the USC Trojans, with Nov 16, 2024 marking the matchup at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Johnson finished the play during first-half action, helping Nebraska generate early offensive momentum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
If you’re just freshening up on the Minnesota Vikings’ draft process, it’s a good idea to get to know the name Emmett Johnson, a running back from Nebraska. He wants to play for the Vikings, his hometown team, so much so that he issued a lighthearted ultimatum this week.
The hometown tailback offers production, youth, and a direct reason for the Vikings to consider him on draft weekend.
Johnson told Twin Cities Live this week that the franchise won’t regret drafting him, but will rue facing him for 10 years if it does not.
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Minnesota Could Have a Natural Mid-Round Option at RB
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (21) leaps to evade a tackle attempt from Penn State cornerback A.J. Harris (4), with Nov 22, 2025 marking the matchup at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Johnson showed agility early in the game while navigating traffic during first-quarter action. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images.
The Johnson Ultimatum
Johnson is indeed on the Vikings’ draft radar, as he recently met with the coaching staff and front office on a pre-draft visit.
About that discussion, Johnson said this week, “I told them I said if y’all take a chance on me, it’s gonna be the best thing that they ever did. But if y’all don’t, you gotta see me for 10 years. That’s kinda how I feel, to be honest.”
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“They’re definitely interested,” Johnson said about the Vikings, “I’m a hometown kid.”
Here’s the footage:
Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson said the #Vikings are “definitely interested” in him. Johnson, the Minneapolis native, met with Minnesota a few times, including on a top 30 visit:
“I told them I said if y’all take a chance on me, it’s gonna the best thing that they ever did. But if… pic.twitter.com/inArSXfZtG
Johnson attended Holy Angels in Richfield and grew up a Vikings fan. He said at the NFL Combine that he would love to play for the Vikings, and as his hometown team needs a young runner — they haven’t picked one with early-round draft capital in seven years — the connection checks out. There’s a reason Minnesota is interested in Johnson; Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, the current co-RB1s, are scheduled to test free agency in 2027.
It’s a fantastic setup for Johnson, and he’s obviously not afraid to pound the table for his hometown team to take the plunge.
Johnson ranks at No. 109 on the current Consensus Big Board, meaning Minnesota will probably have to use one of its 3rd-Round picks to make his dream come true. The Vikings pick 82nd and 97th in “Johnson territory.”
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The College Production and Skill Set
Listed at 5’10” and 200 pounds, Johnson’s strong, stocky build is well-suited for the position’s physical demands. His impressive 2025 season — 1,824 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns — demonstrates his ability to handle a heavy workload and maintain offensive momentum, even under pressure.
At 22 years old, Johnson enters the league at a typical rookie age, suggesting he has the maturity to contribute immediately.
The only drawback to his Vikings agenda? He’s not much of a pass-blocker, and in the past, that seemed to be required of a halfback in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
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Pro Football Focus‘s Trevor Sikkema on Johnson: “His game is built on outstanding vision and elusiveness, highlighted by some of the quickest feet in this class. That allows him to navigate traffic effectively in man- and gap-scheme concepts, where he has posted an elite rushing grade over the past two seasons.”
“Johnson is a natural receiver out of the backfield, and while he shows the mentality for strong pass protection, he could be overpowered at the next level due to his lack of bulk. Johnson has Excellent footwork; light on his feet with precise and explosive cuts behind man-gap concepts.”
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (21) crosses the goal line for a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins, with Nov 8, 2025 marking the game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Johnson finished the scoring play during second-half action, helping Nebraska generate offensive momentum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Johnson initially ran a 4.56 forty at the NFL Combine, which scared some onlookers, but at his Pro Day, he rebounded with a 4.46.
Sikkema added, “He has natural hands as a receiver with high yards per route run usage and missed tackles forced per reception in space. He also runs with a determined style, consistently displaying high effort and competitive toughness. Johnson brings excellent footwork and quickness to the backfield, with good receiving ability to boot.”
“His resume is of a player who can be successful in man- or gap-blocking concepts, with three-down potential, especially as a receiver.”
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What If He’s… Right?
Johnson might have a point with his half-joking ultimatum. Across the lay of the land in the NFC North, every team could use a running back. In Chicago, D’Andre Swift’s contract expires at the end of the 2026 season. The Bears may need a young tailback to pair with Kyle Monagai in 2027 and beyond.
The Green Bay Packers employ Josh Jacobs, who turned 28 this offseason. Some running backs begin an age-related decline around 28, and it wouldn’t be strange for Jacobs to fall victim to that fate. The Packers’ current RB2 is Chris Brooks, a rather anonymous talent in NFL-speak.
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (RB10) addresses reporters during media availability at the NFL Combine, with Feb 27, 2026 marking the event at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Johnson met with media members while discussing his collegiate career and draft outlook. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images.
And while the Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery left via trade to the Houston Texans. If newcomer Isiah Pacheco doesn’t work out as the RB2, a man like Johnson would make sense behind Gibbs.
In an RB-needy NFC North, the Vikings should backhandedly consider Johnson’s playful ultimatum. He has a point.
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It’s also the kind of swagger you want to see from a running back.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday said government is working towards a legislation that would criminalise trafficking and administration of prohibited performance-enhancing substances to athletes.
Speaking at the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network (GAIIN) Final Conference here, the minister said India, which has topped the global list of dope offenders for the past three years, would aggressively tackle the menace that casts a massive shadow on its aspirations of hosting the Olympics in 2036.
“We are working on introducing criminal provisions for athlete support staff or other persons involved in trafficking and administering banned substances,” Mandaviya said, making it apparent that coaches who are found encouraging use of banned substances by athletes would be among those at the receiving end.
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Currently, India does not have penal provisions to tackle supply of banned substances to athletes and disciplinary action is limited to bans that can last up to a lifetime depending on the degree of the offence.
“Doping is no longer individual conduct. It is organised multi-national enterprise. The threat of doping undermines sport as India becomes a global sporting hub. Regulations are not enough. Ethics and values are at the core of sports but growing pressure of competition can lead to doping,” Mandaviya stressed.
“India is committed not only to sporting excellence but to upholding the highest standards of integrity.”
Addressing the conference on Thursday, Mandaviya said India has undertaken proactive reforms “not just for compliance, but with a genuine commitment to the integrity of sports.”
On preventive measures, Mandaviya stressed that “prevention remains the most effective strategy.”
“Providing the right information at the right time empowers athletes to make informed decisions and avoid both intentional and accidental violations,” he added.
India has significantly expanded its anti-doping testing from around 4,000 tests in 2019 to approximately 8,000 tests in the past year.
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Mandaviya noted a significant decline in adverse analytical findings, from 5.6 per cent in 2019 to less than two per cent currently, reflecting the impact of “sustained awareness and preventive efforts.
NFL Draft prospect Jacob Rodriguez is going to have a pretty cool job to tell people about when he’s taken next week by an NFL team to begin his professional football journey.
But if you were to ask Rodriguez, his wife, Emma, has the coolest job in the family.
“Any time I get the chance to talk about her is the best. Every time I get the chance to tell people what she does for a living, they’re blown away, and rightfully so,” Rodriguez told Fox News Digital during a recent interview.
NFL prospect Jacob Rodriguez and his wife, Emma, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot for the United States Army, partnered with USAA, the official “Salute to Service” partner of the NFL.(USAA)
Emma Rodriguez is a 15A Aviation Officer in the United States Army. She flies the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. While Jacob was chasing his football dreams at the University of Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech, Emma, his high school sweetheart, was a West Point cadet.
So, it only seemed right for them to partner with USAA, the official “Salute to Service” partner of the NFL, ahead of Jacob’s start in pro football to help inspire all service members sacrificing for our country just as Emma does.
“I think they do a tremendous job, and they actually got to take us out to a simulator,” Jacob said of USAA. “I got to go, and my wife got to teach me how to fly, and that was a very fun experience. It’s something I didn’t think I would be able to do. Just partnering with them and being able to serve as many people as we can.”
On the gridiron, Jacob knows efficiency, strength, focus and more is needed to perform at a high level. But being in that simulator gave him a newfound appreciation for what his wife does when she goes to work each day.
“What she does is very hard work, and it’s very stressful. But she’s up to the task,” Jacob explained. “She’s always busy, always preparing, getting ready. And it just helps me out so much because I know somebody who’s working so hard and has so much on their shoulders that I get to do what I do for fun. I get to just have a lot of fun when I’m doing it. When I get to support her and show her all the appreciation I have for her, it means a lot to me.”
Their love story is one that certainly pulls at the heartstrings.
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Jacob Rodriguez and his wife, Emma Rodriguez, celebrate after the Big 12 championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025.(John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
They grew up in North Texas, attending rival high schools but building a bond that would face adversity given their individual dreams. Emma was heading to West Point in New York, while Jacob was trying to become a quarterback at Virginia.
They each faced their own levels of adversity, with Jacob transferring to Texas Tech to become a linebacker without a scholarship at first, while Emma was fighting to get through her first year at West Point.
But their bond grew stronger despite the distance and personal struggles, and on July 1, 2023, they didn’t just get engaged. They got married on the same day.
Since then, they’ve been each other’s rock, and Jacob couldn’t be more grateful to have someone like Emma by his side as he looks ahead to next Thursday’s draft.
“We try to be there as much as we can,” he said. “It helps that she’s doing what she’s doing, and I’m doing what I’m doing. She understands how high-performing my environment is, and now I can understand the environment she has. You have to always be efficient, on your toes, be ready to go, be prepared.
“Just being able to support each other, knowing what we have to do and knowing how much work needs to be put in, we can both really be efficient with our communication. We can both know there’s more to it than just work. It’s a true, special connection, and we’re just so thankful for each other. And I’m so thankful for everything she does and the way she supports me.”
While Jacob is anxious waiting to see where his NFL journey begins, Emma is also set to deploy in a few months. But while the long-distance relationship may have to continue, they will be together next week to experience the draft together.
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Jacob Rodriguez of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates with his wife Emma Rodriguez after the Big 12 championship game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 6, 2025.(John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
“With the NFL Draft coming up, she’ll be right there to support me. But if anything comes up on her side, I’ll be right there to support her. It’s nice when you have that coming from the house and being around each other.
“What I do is something I can really appreciate and something I never take for granted.”
Punjab Kings (PBKS) extended their unbeaten run in IPL 2026 by claiming a dominant seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday, April 16. PBKS won the toss and elected to field first at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
MI were without Rohit Sharma in the clash. The veteran opener missed the game due to a hamstring injury, and Quinton de Kock was added to the playing XI. The South African keeper-batter shone with the bat, slamming a stunning century in his first match of the season.
De Kock remained unbeaten on 112 off 60 balls. Naman Dhir supported him with a crucial 50-run knock from 31 balls. The hosts fell short of the 200-run mark despite a 122-run stand between the two for the third wicket.
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MI couldn’t finish their innings on a high note and posted 195/6 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers with his 3/22 in four overs. PBKS chased the target comfortably in 16.3 overs.
Prabhsimran Singh scored a dazzling 80* off 39, while skipper Shreyas Iyer contributed 66 off 35 deliveries. Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanfar picked up two wickets for MI.
The win took PBKS to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. They have four wins and one no result to their name after five games. MI, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat on the trot. The five-time champions are languishing in the ninth spot with just one win from five games.
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Here, we take a look at three moments from the match that generated a buzz among fans.
#3 Jasprit Bumrah’s dropped catch proves costly
PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh took the game away with his attacking batting. The wicketkeeper-batter struck two sixes and 11 fours, finishing with a strike rate of 205.13.
Notably, MI skipper Hardik Pandya almost dismissed the dangerous batter in the powerplay when he was on 11 off five balls. Prabhsimran attempted the cut shot off a slower short ball on the first ball of the fourth over.
However, he failed to clear the infield, and the ball went to Jasprit Bumrah at short third man. The speedster failed to hang onto the catch, giving the 25-year-old a reprieve. MI had to pay for the costly mistake as Prabhsimran played a match-defining knock.
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#2 Arshdeep Singh rattles MI with early twin strikes
Arshdeep Singh gave PBKS an ideal start by taking two wickets off successive balls in the third over. Opener Ryan Rickelton (2 off 8) was the first one to perish. The southpaw got a decent connection on the flick shot, but it went straight to Shashank Singh at deep square leg. It was also the left-arm seamer’s 100th IPL wicket.
The onus was on senior batter Suryakumar Yadav to rescue his team after the early breakthrough. However, he fell for a golden duck. The right-handed batter got the outside edge while going for the drive and was caught at short third man by Yuzvendra Chahal.
#1 PBKS captain’s jaw-dropping effort ends Hardik Pandya’s stay at the crease
Shreyas Iyer produced a terrific effort in the deep to dismiss opposite number Hardik Pandya in the 18th over. Hardik went for a big hit down the ground but got the bottom of his bat.
It initially seemed that he might have just gotten enough distance to clear the ropes. However, Iyer had other plans. He ran from long-on and leapt in the air to take the catch.
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Iyer would have landed outside the boundary ropes. He showed great presence of mind, tossing the ball towards Xavier Bartlett, who completed the relay catch. Even the MI dug out looked stunned by the PBKS captain’s brilliance.
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