Red Raider Soccer edges Columbia in District Semifinals

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was back on the field on Monday for the first time since injuring his left ankle four weeks ago. Robinson, Atlanta's top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, gained 1,463 total yards as a rookie. He said his ankle injury lingered from last season and is nearly healed. "I was just trying to make sure I don't feel it at all before I come back in," Robinson said. Head coach Raheem Morris said he'll welcome Robinson back when he's at full strength and expected him to be ready for mandatory minicamp next week. The Falcons are operating a new offense with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, part of the reason Robinson was pumped to participate in a portion of Monday's workout. He called Cousins a "top 10 quarterback" and noted the excitement level is up with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson teaching his new scheme. "Having a guy (Cousins) out there and really show it, it's been fun to have him," Bijan Robinson said. Zac Robinson played quarterback at Oklahoma State and was a member of the Los Angeles Rams' coaching staff -- where he worked with Morris -- for the past five seasons. Zac Robinson is prepping Bijan Robinson to play the role of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey for the Falcons. McCaffrey scored 21 touchdowns for the 49ers in 2023 in a scheme extremely similar to the planned approach of the Falcons, both derivatives of the Sean McVay-Kyle Shanahan scheme. "I'm gonna be more of a runner that does everything else," Bijan Robinson said. --Field Level Media

Falcons RB Bijan Robinson back on field, ready for McCaffrey role

The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran guard Max Scharping on Monday. Terms were not disclosed. Scharping, 27, appeared in all 17 games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season. He has started 33 of his 79 career games with the Houston Texans (2019-21) and Bengals. The Texans drafted the 6-foot-6, 325-pound Scharping in the second round out of Northern Illinois in 2019. --Field Level Media

Hall of Famer, Cowboys legend Larry Allen dies at 52

Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboys legend Larry Allen died Sunday while on vacation with his family in Mexico. He was 52. Allen made 11 Pro Bowls and six All-Pro first teams over 14 seasons as an offensive lineman for the Cowboys (1994-2005) and San Francisco 49ers (2006-07). He was a member of the Hall of Fame's All-Decade teams for the 1990s and the 2000s and was inducted into Canton in 2013. "Larry, known for his great athleticism and incredible strength, was one of the most respected offensive linemen to ever play in the NFL," the Cowboys said in a statement released Monday. "His versatility and dependability were also signature parts of his career. Through that, he continued to serve as inspiration for many other players, defining what it meant to be a great teammate, competitor and winner." Allen is survived by his wife, Janelle, and three children. Memorial service arrangements will be announced in the near future, the team said. "The Jones family and the Cowboys extend their deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the Allen family and grieve along with the many other friends and Cowboys teammates that also loved Larry," the team said. Drafted by the Cowboys in the second round in 1994 out of Division II Sonoma State, Allen won Super Bowl XXX with Dallas in his second NFL season. He played in 203 regular season games (197 starts) and eight playoff games (all starts). Allen grew up in Compton, Calif., where he survived being stabbed 12 times while protecting one of his brothers. He attended four different high schools before attending Butte College in Oroville, Calif., earning JUCO All-American honors before starring at Sonoma State and participating in the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. Allen mostly played left guard in the NFL but also lined up at right guard, right tackle and left tackle while protecting quarterbacks from Troy Aikman to Tony Romo in Dallas and Alex Smith in San Francisco. "Just received the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved teammate Larry Allen. He was a HOF offensive lineman that dominated opponents regardless of the position played. Off the field, he was a gentle giant that loved his family. Rest in Peace LA," Aikman posted to X. Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith posted an emotional video to his Instagram page. "I'm at a loss for words right now. Such a good dude, great player, super person. Just breaks my heart," Smith said. "He will be sorely missed." Hall of Fame President Jim Porter also weighed in. "[Allen] could literally beat the will out of his opponents, with many quitting midgame or not dressing at all rather than face him, but that was only on the field. Off it, he was a quiet, gentle giant," Porter said. The 6-foot-3, 335-pound Allen was known for his incredible feats of strength, including bench pressing 700 pounds. Allen signed a one-day contract to retire as a Cowboy in August 2009. He was inducted into the franchise's Ring of Honor in 2011. "Wow def someone I hoped to meet one day ! RIP LEGEND!!" Cowboys All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons posted to X. --Field Level Media

Coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer and defensive tackle Aaron Donald headline the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame ballot released Monday by the National Football Foundation. The ballot, emailed to more than 12,000 NFF members, includes 77 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 34 coaches from the divisional ranks. "It's an enormous honor to just be on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot considering more than 5.7 million people have played college football and only 1,093 players have been inducted," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "The Hall's requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of about 1,500 individuals who are even eligible. Being in today's elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to have ever played the game, and we look forward to announcing the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class early next year." The voting deadline is July 1, and the 2025 class will be officially inducted during the 67th CFF annual awards on Dec. 9, 2025, in Las Vegas. Saban, Meyer and Donald made the ballot in their first year of eligibility. Saban, who just retired after last season after 17 seasons at Alabama, boasts the most national championships in FBS history, winning four BCS titles and three CFP championships during his career. Meyer finished his career with the third-highest winning percentage in FBS history (85.4 percent), winning two BCS national championships with Florida and the inaugural CFP title with Ohio State. Donald was a 2013 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland trophies. Donald, who retired from the NFL after last season, remains Pitt's all-time leader in career (66) and single-season (28.5 in 2013) tackles for loss. Other players on the ballot for the first time include 2012 Heisman Trophy runner-up Manti Te'o from Notre Dame, 2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram from Alabama and former California wide receiver DeSean Jackson. --Field Level Media

Nick Saban, Urban Meyer lead College FB HOF ballot

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis and defensive lineman Arik Armstead are both expected to be ready for the start of training camp. Head coach Doug Pederson provided updates Monday for the team's major offseason additions, who are both recovering from knee injuries. Davis, 25, sustained a PCL sprain during the Buffalo Bills' Week 18 game against the Miami Dolphins last season. He did not play in Buffalo's two postseason games. Davis signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Jaguars in March and is expected to help the team replace the departed Calvin Ridley, now with the Tennessee Titans. A fourth-round pick in 2020, Davis caught 163 passes for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns in 64 games (47 starts) in four seasons with the Bills. Armstead, 30, signed a three-year, $51 million contract in March after nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. Armstead is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He played through the injury as the 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LVIII. A 2015 first-round pick, Armstead has 33.5 sacks, 88 quarterback hits and 302 tackles in 116 games (97 starts). He tallied five sacks in 12 starts during the 2023 regular season. --Field Level Media

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are the last teams left standing in the NHL playoffs and will play for the Stanley Cup in the best-of-seven final starting Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

Vikings WR Justin Jefferson agrees to 4-year extension