Seventh inning comeback lifts Red Raiders over Shelbyville

Quarterbacks Sam Hartman, Kedon Slovis and John Rhys Plumlee were among the free agents who agreed to contracts this weekend following the NFL Draft, according to multiple media and team reports. Hartman, who starred at Notre Dame after a five-year tenure at Wake Forest, will receive a $20,000 signing bonus and a $225,000 base salary guarantee from the Washington Commanders, NFL Network reported. Slovis, who played at Southern California, Pittsburgh and then BYU, is signing with the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL Network reported. Plumlee played at Ole Miss and then UCF, could be projected as a wide receiver in the NFL, and agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced. Other quarterbacks who agreed to terms, according to NFL Network reporting, are Louisville's Jack Plummer (Carolina Panthers) and Western Kentucky's Austin Reed (Chicago Bears). The Las Vegas Raiders announced they are signing former South Alabama QB Carter Bradley, son of longtime NFL coach Gus Bradley. The Commanders also are signing Southern California running back Austin Jones, according to his agency, which will reunite him with former Trojans assistant coach Kliff Kingsbury, now Washington's offensive coordinator. Players following in their father's footsteps include former FAU and Missouri State wide receiver Terique Owens, son of former NFL flanker Terrell Owens, signing with the San Francisco 49ers, according to Terrell Owens and multiple media reports. Former Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr., son of the former NFL great at the same position, is signing with the Buffalo Bills, the NFL Network reported. The Denver Broncos have committed a $25,000 signing bonus and $250,000 salary guarantee to former Memphis and Old Dominion running back Blake Watson, the NFL Network reported. After Michigan had 13 players selected from the national championship team in the draft, four more former Wolverines are signing as free agents, ESPN reported. Defensive lineman Braiden McGregor (New York Jets), defensive back Josh Wallace (Los Angeles Rams), offensive lineman Drake Nugent (49ers) and offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart, who will be with his former coach Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. --Field Level Media

Former Ivy League Player of the Year Kaitlyn Chen is transferring from Princeton to UConn. The 5-foot-9 senior guard announced her commitment to the Huskies on Sunday on social media. Chen averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 30 games (all starts) for the Tigers in 2023-24. She was a two-time All-Ivy League first-team selection and the league's player of the year in 2022-23. In 90 games (80 starts) over three seasons at Princeton, the California native averaged 14.2 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. --Field Level Media

Former first-round pick John Ross reportedly is attempting a comeback to his NFL career. Arguably best known for being selected one pick ahead of Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft, Ross will participate in rookie minicamp with the Philadelphia Eagles on a tryout basis, NFL Network reported Sunday. The speedy wide receiver initially retired prior to training camp last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. The ninth overall pick in 2017 by the Cincinnati Bengals, Ross' high selection was partly due to running the then-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.22 seconds) in NFL Combine history. Production didn't follow as Ross caught just 51 passes for 733 yards and 10 touchdowns in 27 games (20 starts) over four seasons with the Bengals. Ross requested a trade during the 2020 season that didn't come to fruition and later sustained a season-ending foot injury. He played in just three games that season. In 2021, Ross played 10 games (one start) for the New York Giants and caught 11 passes for 224 yards and one score. Ross played college football at Washington and was a standout in his final season when he caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and 17 touchdowns. --Field Level Media

The Buffalo Bills signed wide receiver Quintez Cephus, recently reinstated from a gambling suspension. Agents for the former Detroit Lions wideout announced the transaction Sunday. Terms were not disclosed. "Thank you God," Cephus posted on X, along with the hashtag BillsMafia. Cephus, 26, was a fifth-round pick by Detroit in 2020 and caught 37 passes for 568 yards and four touchdowns in 22 games (six starts) from 2020-22. The Lions released Cephus in April 2023 following his indefinite suspension for violating the league's gambling policy. The NFL reinstated Cephus and four other players from their gambling-related bans last week. --Field Level Media

The Jacksonville Jaguars will exercise the fifth-year options for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne. General manager Trent Baalke confirmed the widely anticipated moves on Saturday for the pair of 2021 first-round draft picks. Lawrence, the No. 1 overall pick in that draft, will earn a guaranteed $25.7 million in 2025 and his former Clemson teammate Etienne (25th pick) is due $6.1 million on his option. Lawrence, 24, made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and is 20-30 as a starter, passing for 11,770 yards with 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions through three seasons. He has rushed for 964 yards and 11 scores. Etienne, 25, missed his 2021 rookie season with a foot injury but has since posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He has gained 2,925 yards from scrimmage with 17 TDs in 34 games (29 starts). --Field Level Media

Jags picking up options for Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne

The backlog of players with COVID eligibility is finally coming to a close and the last of the super seniors are ready to turn pro. That means the 2025 draft class should bring superior depth with quality talent available deep into the third day of next year's NFL draft. Early expectations reveal the class is light at quarterback, with possibly only a couple of first-rounders at the position. The defensive side of the ball will rebound next year. Mass returnees the past two years loaded the trenches inside and out. If the top juniors ultimately declare, as many as six defensive tackles could go in the first round, which happened just once in the past decade. 1. James Pearce Jr., OLB, Tennessee A modern day pass-rusher, Pearce is on the lighter side and will need some seasoning for NFL run defense, but he is a rare bender with outstanding first-step quickness. He's the early favorite to be the top pick and plays a premium position. 2. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri In the mold of A.J. Brown, Burden's strength through the catch point and with the ball in his hands stands out. His testing will be key to whether he can maintain a top offensive billing next year. 3. Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado One of the best storylines in college football last season, Hunter's dual-threat ability catches attention, but his play as a cornerback is what NFL teams will love. He is an elite mover with ideal fluidity and ball skills for a pro defensive back. 4. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas Reminiscent of Peter Skoronski, Banks is a technician with good strength and body control. He lacks ideal length for a tackle. His polish should get him drafted early, although there will be a split on whether to play tackle or guard. 5. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky Walker's body type will be a strike in the mind of some scouts, but he is an extraordinary athlete for his size. There have been only a handful of players ever who can line up against offensive tackles at 350 pounds and succeed, and he's one of them. 6. Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi Twitchy and versatile as a pass rusher, Nolen hasn't produced up to his physical talent yet, but teams will be captivated by the Texas A&M transfer's burst and agility. 7. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona A big-bodied target at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, McMillan has hands as soft as pillows and a feel for crafting openings at the catch point. His speed may end up being a point of deliberation for teams, but he looks like an early favorite for the top of next year's draft. 8. Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas The rise of Darius Robinson toward the top of the 2024 draft is a good sign for Jackson next year, who has even more juice coming off the edge. While he isn't as bendy as the usual elite pass-rushers, his length and strength through the rush gives him a trump card against most blockers. 9. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan A defensive pillar during Michigan's run to the championship, Graham isn't as toolsy as Nolen or Walker, but his refined pass-rushing may translate more immediately as a pro. 10. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia Overlooked in the shadow of Brock Bowers, Delp lacks the same caliber of top-end speed once he gets the ball in his hands, but he is smoother out of his breaks and presents a similarly special receiving option as a tight end. --Field Level Media

Top 10 prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft

Former Oregon State star running back Damien Martinez announced Saturday that he is transferring to Miami. Martinez was one of the top running backs available in the transfer portal. "It's on! 305 it's that time," Martinez said on social media with a reference to Miami's area code. Martinez earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors by rushing for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games last season for a 6.1 average per carry. He recorded six 100-yard games with a high of 146 against Stanford. In two seasons with the Beavers, Martinez has 2,167 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games. Last season was Oregon State's final one in the Pac-12. Coach Jonathan Smith departed for the same job at Michigan State. --Field Level Media

Ex-Oregon State star RB Damien Martinez chooses Miami