Lady Raiders split first two games of Lincoln County Border Battle

After two lackluster seasons at wide receiver, former first-round pick Treylon Burks will have to do more, the Tennessee Titans' new head coach Brian Callahan said on Tuesday. Callahan liked what he saw as Burks lined up for some special teams plays as the gunner on punt coverage during the Titans' minicamp practice. "He's going to have to contribute," Callahan said of roles on special teams for Burks, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder. "You know you only get so many hats on game day, and if he's one of those guys on game day, we're going to have to find a place for him. Guys like him should be great special teams players on top of it, just because of his size and speed. And so the gunner thing is something I think he's very capable of doing, there might be some more roles for him in the other phases, as well." The Titans made Burks the 18th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Arkansas after trading star receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles. While Brown has flourished as one of the NFL's best receivers, Burks has endured two injury-plagued seasons. As a rookie, he started six of 11 games and totaled 33 receptions on 54 targets for 444 yards and one touchdown. Last season, Burks started nine of 11 games and caught 16 of 30 targets for 221 yards and no scores. He was seventh on the team in receptions, behind leader and established star DeAndre Hopkins (75 receptions, 1,057 yards, seven TDs). Tennessee bolstered the wide receiving corps by signing veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in the offseason. Burks, 24, played one snap on special teams in 2023 and 24 snaps in 2022 -- on return units. He had a combined 836 snaps on offense. Burks, an All-Southeastern Conference receiver at Arkansas, had experience returning punts and kickoffs for the Razorbacks. "Anytime you're not the full-time starter, you're going to have to contribute somewhere on game day," Callahan said, "and I think Trey's attitude and approach to special teams has been fantastic, and so I'm excited to see what he can do for them. I think he's an asset on special teams." --Field Level Media

Bo knows football. And he'll continue knowing it at Ohio State. As the namesake of a legendary football player with an equally memorable marketing machine surrounding him who even played the same position, Lamar "Bo" Jackson Jr. should be used to the comparisons by now. But he's paving his own path on the gridiron at this point, as evidenced by the consensus four-star running back's commitment to the Buckeyes on Tuesday. Jackson selected Ohio State over offers from the likes of Georgia, Penn State, Alabama and Michigan, among others. The fifth-ranked player in the state of Ohio per the 247Sports composite rankings, the Cleveland-area product (Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School) posted to social media Tuesday afternoon "It's Official 1000% Committed." Those same rankings list Jackson as the No. 5 running back in the country for the 2025 class, reporting that he ran for 1,700 yards while averaging over 10 yards per carry in 2023. --Field Level Media

Alabama and new coach Kalen DeBoer persuaded four-star quarterback Keelon Russell to flip his commitment from SMU to the Crimson Tide on Tuesday. Russell, a Texas native, is ranked No. 38 overall in the Class of 2025 and No. 6 among quarterbacks by the 247Sports composite. He marks the first high school quarterback to commit to Alabama since DeBoer was hired to replace retired legend Nick Saban. Russell told ESPN that the Alabama coaching staff presented him with a clear plan for his college path in Tuscaloosa. "They laid out the spot for me on the depth chart -- it's something a quarterback dreams of," Russell told ESPN. "I felt like if I took the role that I could do some amazing things at high levels." Alabama enters 2024 with Jalen Milroe occupying the No. 1 spot on the QB depth chart. The roster also includes rising sophomore Ty Simpson and a pair of redshirt freshmen, Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack. Alabama lost 2024 quarterback commit Julian Sayin when he flipped to Ohio State over the winter. --Field Level Media

Legendary UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma signed a five-year contract extension worth $18.7 million, the program announced Tuesday. Auriemma, 70, previously said he had no intention to retire after the 2023-24 season. His new agreement runs through April 2029. Auriemma's deal carries a base salary of $400,000 and is bolstered by "additional compensation for speaking, consulting and media obligations" worth $2.94 million for the upcoming 2024-25 season. That figure will increase by $200,000 per year through the life of the contract. In a statement, Auriemma thanked UConn's leadership for their trust in him and their commitment to women's basketball. "I still find it hard to believe that I've been at UConn for over half my life," Auriemma said. "I feel like there's so much more that can be done, and will be done, and I'm excited to be the one to do it with my staff and my team. I'm probably as excited about these next few years as I've ever been over the last 40." The 2024-25 season will be Auriemma's 40th at UConn, and he will return a core that features National Player of the Year candidate Paige Bueckers and fellow stars KK Arnold and Azzi Fudd. Auriemma owns a 1,213-162 record (88.2 percent) as UConn's coach and has led the Huskies to 23 Final Four trips and 11 national titles. "Geno has been such a mainstay at UConn that it's impossible to overstate his lasting positive influence on our student-athletes, the women's basketball program and Connecticut as a whole," UConn president Radenka Maric said in a statement. "His leadership and nearly 40 years of commitment to our university have brought immeasurable value and name recognition to both UConn and the entire state." --Field Level Media

Geno Auriemma signs 5-year extension with UConn

Traded for the second time in his career and locked into a "prove it" deal for 2024 with his new team, Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs is goal-minded before training camp begins next month. His top priority in his early days in Houston is crystal clear from Diggs' perspective. "Earning the respect of my teammates," Diggs said Tuesday. "As a player, I've been around the league for a little while now, so earning the respect of your peers first and earning the respect of your coaches, being where you're supposed to be, and taking your time each and every day. Really valuing the moment. I take it pretty serious, but loving what I'm doing and loving who I'm being around." Diggs drew criticism from media in four seasons with the Bills for perceived selfishness he defended as competitiveness and a desire to be the best. It reached a boiling point last summer, when his future in Buffalo appeared to be in doubt. But Diggs stayed, and played well in 2023, before the Texans acquired him in March for a 2025 second-round draft pick. Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was first-team All-Pro in Buffalo in 2020 as Josh Allen's go-to receiver and caught 35 touchdown passes with 445 receptions and 5,372 yards receiving in 66 games (65 starts). Now entering his 10th NFL season, Diggs joins an ascending offense with the Texans and 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. He said he's grateful for his time with Allen, but not looking back at Buffalo or worried about public opinion as he assimilates into a new locker room. "When you garnish your opinion from what you hear from somebody, it's different if you know them on a personal level. Not too many people know me on a personal level, and I don't particularly share a lot of my thoughts. I keep work, work," Diggs said. "I try not to dive into how I feel about certain things or like people's opinions. I have been in the league, go into my 10th year in the league. Obviously, I put in a lot of work to get where I'm at. The respect level is always there. Who I am as a player, they know who I am and I'm a true competitor. I love to win. I love getting better, who I am as a person. This is a job at the end of the day. We build a family environment with the team. Those guys would know me personally, that's why I earn the respect of them first." Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said there are no surprises based on what he's seen from Diggs in organized team activities. "What I've seen is just a guy who I thought we would get. A guy who has made plays," Ryans said. "Every time we have thrown him the ball, he's come down with it. Sure-handed guy. Really good teammate. Great energy around the building, in the locker room with the guys. I'm excited to continue to see his growth and to learning our offense and how we do things. Couldn't be more pleased where he is right now." --Field Level Media

The New York Jets acquired Pro Bowl pass-rusher Haason Reddick from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, but their coach has yet to even speak with Reddick. Jets coach Robert Saleh said he's had no communication with Reddick since the trade on March 29, and he does not know why Reddick is not with the team at OTAs this week. "I'm focused on the guys who are here and Haason's a pro," Saleh told reporters. "He's been in this league a while. He's produced it at a very high level for a long time. He's got his routine and if it makes people feel better, we know where he's at, we know what he's doing and we know he's working his tail off to get where he needs to get you to have a productive ‘24 season." The prevailing theory is that Reddick, who was unhappy with his contract in Philadelphia, still wants a new deal. Saleh deferred to general manager Joe Douglas on contract questions. Saleh said he expected Reddick to attend the Jets' mandatory minicamp next week. Reddick has already forfeited a $250,000 workout bonus by skipping OTAs and would be subject to fines if he does not report to minicamp. Reddick is entering the final season of a three-year, $45 million contract signed with Philadelphia in 2022. Reddick, 29, made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons and has four straight seasons of double-digit sacks. He has missed just one game in his seven-year career with the Arizona Cardinals (2017-20), Carolina Panthers (2021) and Eagles (2022-23) and has tallied 410 tackles (69 for loss), 58 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries. --Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders signed kicker Ramiz Ahmed on Tuesday as a possible replacement for Brandon McManus. The Commanders, who had signed McManus to a one-year, $3.6 million contract in March, released him on Sunday night, several days after the veteran player was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit. Ahmed, 28, has played in one NFL game, kicking six kickoffs with three touchbacks for a 61.7-yard average for the Green Bay Packers against the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. He did not attempt an extra point or field goal. He played in the current United Football League season for the Birmingham Stallions, making 10 of 13 field-goal attempts (76.9 percent) with a long of 46 yards in six games before he was released last week. NFL teams cannot contact players on UFL playoff teams until their season ends. The Stallions, who activated former Washington kicker Chris Blewitt from injured reserve, play Saturday against the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference championship game. Ahmed made 15 of 20 field-goal attempts and 40 of 44 extra-point attempts for Nevada in 2018 and was not drafted. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 2020 and was released in training camp. The Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL drafted him in the seventh round in 2022 and he made a league-record 61-yard field goal that season. McManus and his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, are being sued by two women identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II. The lawsuit was filed May 24 in Duval County, where Jacksonville is located. They allege McManus of rubbing and grinding against them during a team flight to London last fall. Jane Doe I said McManus tried to kiss her and Jane Doe II said McManus "smirked and walked away" after she confronted him about grinding against her. The women said the Jaguars did not provide a safe environment for staff on the flight. McManus' attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, released a statement to news outlets Sunday night that thanked Washington for giving McManus an opportunity with the team. "However, we reiterate that the allegations against Brandon are and remain absolutely false and importantly, are contradicted by indisputable evidence and the accusers' own prior inconsistent statements and omissions," the statement continued. McManus, 32, spent the first nine years of his 10-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos and signed with the Jaguars in May 2023. --Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was all smiles as he welcomed Cam Heyward to the opening day of organized team activities on Tuesday, despite the defensive tackle's desire for a contract extension. Heyward, entering the final year of his current contract (four years, $65.6 million), is a three-time All-Pro and the 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He has played in 194 career games (159 starts) across 13 seasons with Pittsburgh, recording 647 tackles and 80.5 sacks. He skipped voluntary workouts last month and it was believed he'd sit out OTAs, too. But he showed up and let reporters know what he wants in a new contract. "I'm looking to be here," Heyward said. "I want to be valued at my position. I understand I came off a rough season but I don't think it's a step down from where I can play. I think when I'm at the top of my game, I'm still a top-five player at my position." Heyward, 35, played only 11 games last season because of a Week 1 groin injury. Heyward finished with 33 tackles and two sacks during the 2023 campaign. Heyward told reporters he intends to take part in minicamp and training camp. Heyward's average annual salary of $16.4 million ranks just 25th among defensive linemen, per Spotrac. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa tops the list with an average salary of $34 million. Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, a defensive tackle, is second at $31.75 million. --Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay will present Dwight Freeney for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, the third time Irsay has done such honors. The seven-member Class of 2024 will be enshrined on Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio. The other inductees, and their presenters are: --Randy Gradishar: Tom Jackson, former Denver Broncos teammate --Devin Hester: Juanita Brown, mother --Andre Johnson: Gary Kubiak, former Houston Texans head coach --Steve McMichael: Jarrett Payton, longtime friend and son of McMichael's teammate, Walter Payton --Julius Peppers: Carl Carey, longtime friend, mentor and agent --Patrick Willis: Ernicka Willis, sister The presenter introduces the enshrinee via video and is present on stage as the bronze bust is uncovered. Irsay previously presented Colts greats Marvin Harrison (2016) and Edgerrin James (2020). It's the second time for Payton, who was just 12 when he presented his father for enshrinement in 1993. Ernicka Willis will become the second sister to fill the role. She follows Elaine Anderson, who spoke on behalf of her brother, Cliff Branch, when he was enshrined posthumously in 2022. --Field Level Media