Jun. 10—CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema made recruiting the state of Illinois a priority when he took the Illini job in December 2020. Neighboring states were important, too, when it came to Illinois’ roster-building efforts. The inroads Bielema and his staff have made on that front were evident Sunday and into Monday morning with three commitments in the Class of 2025 …

After nine NFL seasons, Steven Nelson has decided to call it a career. The veteran cornerback, who served as a team captain for the Houston Texans last season, made the surprising decision to retire over the weekend.  The 31-year-old told KPRC-TV in Houston that he’s stepping away from the game because he wants to spend more time with his family.  …

Free agent tight end Marcedes Lewis officially signs with Bearsc originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago Free agent tight end Marcedes Lewis has agreed to a contract with the Chicago Bears, the team announced in a press release Monday. Lewis appeared in all 17 games for the Bears last season, with four catches for 29 yards and a touchdown for …

LSU has been on quite a heater to start the 2025 recruiting class, holding 11 commitments — headlined by five-stars Bryce Underwood and Caden Durham — in a class that ranks as high as No. 2 nationally, depending on the service. But this is the time of year that can really make or break a class. The June official visit …

NFL teams have now firmly moved into their 2024 offseason program. The first wave of free agency and the NFL Draft are far in the rearview mirror, and teams are now gathering for OTAs and minicamps.  And during that time, it’s not just the rookies and the stalwarts who participate. This is also a time for veteran free agents to …

Welcome to the Monday edition of the Pick Six newsletter! I don’t know how it happened, but we’ve finally reached the final week of mandatory minicamp. After this week, there won’t be anymore NFL practices held until each team starts training camp in July. That means you better soak up all the NFL news we have today, because we’ll be …

USATSI True freshmen no longer have the type of outsized impact on college football they did five years ago. The era of Jake Fromm and Tua Tagovailoa tangoing in the second half of a national championship game, or Trevor Lawrence leading Clemson to a perfect record and a title a year later, has given way to super seniors and transfers-for-hire.  …

Any possible drama or tension between Bill Belichick and his former employer won’t prevent him from attending Tom Brady’s induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Belichick is planning to return to Foxborough for Brady’s ceremony on Wednesday, The Athletic reported. It’ll mark Belichick’s first time back at Gillette Stadium since he and the Patriots parted ways in …

The Seahawks will wrap up their offseason work with a minicamp this week and they will also be taking a look at a potential addition to their offense. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that wide receiver Robbie Chosen will be taking part in their minicamp on a tryout basis. The minicamp begins on Tuesday and runs through Thursday. Chosen …

The Alabama Crimson Tide football program received some positive news on the recruiting trail on Monday afternoon. 2025 four-star interior offensive lineman Michael Carroll announced his commitment to Alabama. Carroll chose the Crimson Tide over other programs like the Georgia Bulldogs, Michigan Wolverines, and Penn State Nittany Lions. Carroll took an official visit to Alabama this weekend. The native of Doylestown, …

Report: 49ers’ latest contract offer to Aiyuk is in $26M range originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area The standoff between the 49ers and star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk continues, and a resolution doesn’t appear imminent. As long as both parties remain as far apart in contract extension negotiations as they appear to be. Just how far apart are they? …

The recruiting process is a long road that can go back and forth weekly with different schools pushing for top prospects. Auburn is one of those schools that is constantly working its hardest, which is keeping them in the race for talented players. One of those players is four-star defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, who is currently committed to the Tigers’ …

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis had an up-and-down rookie season.  His began his career with an electric four-touchdown performance against the Atlanta Falcons, but then threw just four touchdowns and four interceptions across his final eight starts. He had two games with a passer rating over 130, and three with a rating under 70. Levis took an astronomical 28 sacks …

Keenan Allen’s Justin Herbert experience will be vital for Caleb Williams, Bears originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Keenan Allen has been around the block in the NFL. The veteran wide receiver, who is entering his 12th season, started his career catching passes from surefire Hall of Famer Philip Rivers before becoming the favored target of …

The Oregon Ducks started the week of on a high note, landing a commitment from 4-star offensive tackle Ziyare Addison, who just took an official visit to Eugene over the weekend. Addison is rated by 247Sports as the No. 140 overall player in the 2025 class, and the No. 14 OT in the nation. Standing at 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, Addison …