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  • 2026 four-star edge rusher Julian Walker commits to Michigan Football

    2026 four-star edge rusher Julian Walker commits to Michigan Football

     

    BOOOOOM! Four-star edge rusher Julian Walker has committed to Michigan! Lou Esposito has reeled in SIX stud along the defensive line in the Wolverines’ 2026 class. He is on a legendary roll on the recruiting trail:

     

    Von Lozon is the Site Manager for Maize n Brew, where he has covered Michigan football, basketball, recruiting and more since 2016.

    Lou Esposito is on an all-time heater on the recruiting trail for the Michigan Wolverines, as he reeled in ANOTHER top target in the 2026 class four-star edge rusher Julian Walker.

     

    The 6-foot-6, 252-pounder hails from Irmo, South Carolina and plays high school football at Dutch Fork High School. Walker earned his offer from Esposito back in February. He took an unofficial visit this spring and then followed that up with an official visit the weekend of June 20.

     

    This is a bit of a surprising commitment, given the fact that his father is on the strength and conditioning staff at South Carolina. For that reason, the Gamecocks have always been viewed as the heavy favorite to land him. However, that doesn’t mean his father wasn’t guiding his son to potentially play college football somewhere else.

     

    “As a parent, I’ve been blown away, and the coaching side of me has been blown away, seeing it from places I’ve been in my life,” Mr. Walker told On3’s Ethan McDowell ($) after his son’s official visit to Michigan.

    “And, the father in me is like, ‘How in the world, as a father, do you not see yourself in a place like this, that’s so in depth with getting these guys prepared for life and putting a standard up?’ Their standard is out of this world. You’re really at a loss for words. You really are.

     

    “I told coach Moore, ‘I have over and over tried to find excuses to say no, that this isn’t the place, but you guys just continually wow me. You’ve got to call a spade a spade. I was raised to be honest in this business man, and they’ve got something special going on over there, and it’s gonna be interesting for Julian if it is the fit for him.”

     

    247Sports’ Clint Brewster scouted Walker this spring and wrote this about him:

     

    Walker possesses great overall size and length that correlates well to the next level as a 3-4 defensive lineman. He has fluid movements to get past the offensive tackle from both inside and outside rushes.

    Chases the ball with a great motor and can turn and flatten down the line of scrimmage. Plays with reactive quickness and has a counter move. Walker has the strength and toughness to be disruptive against the run and make plays as a true 3-down player. Depending on body type and how he develops, Walker could potentially move inside on passing downs.

     

    Other than Michigan and South Carolina, Walker also earned offers from North Carolina, NC State, Missouri, Auburn, USC, Kentucky, Syracuse and more.

     

    With Walker now in the fold, Michigan has 19 total commitments and owns the No. 8 ranked recruiting class in 2026, according to 247Sports’ composite. The Wolverines are one spot ahead of Alabama and one spot behind Clemson.

     

    Walker is the sixth player along the defensive line to commit to Michigan, joining four-stars Carter Meadows, Titan Davis, McHale Blade and Alister Vallejo, and three-star Tariq Boney. He ranks No. 4 in his home state, No. 20 at the edge position and No. 197 overall in the 2026 class, according to the composite.

     

    As a junior in 2024, Walker (unofficially, per his Hudl) compiled 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. Check out some of his best junior year highlights in the video below.

  • Alabama football players earn 2025 preseason All-America honors

    Alabama football players earn 2025 preseason All-America honors

     

     

    Alabama football players were named preseason All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams and junior tackle Kadyn Proctor earned first-team All-America honors for the Crimson Tide.

     

    Williams, who played his high school football at Saraland, was a freshman star for the Tide, famously playing the 2024 season as a 17-year-old. He finished the year with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns.

     

    The youngster introduced himself to the rest of the college football world in an early-season game against Georgia. After the Crimson Tide squandered a lead late, Williams made a circus catch and, several ballet moves later, scored the winning touchdown.

     

    Proctor has spent the past two years as Alabama’s left tackle. After Nick Saban retired in January of 2024, he briefly transferred to Iowa, but returned to recapture the starting job in Tuscaloosa before the beginning of his sophomore season.

     

    The Iowa native earned second-team All-SEC honors last year. He was named to the conference’s all-freshman team in 2023.

     

    Alabama was also represented on the second-team Walter Camp All-America squad. Tim Keenan earned the nod, entering his final season in Tuscaloosa.

     

    The defensive lineman from Birmingham started 12 of 13 games for the Crimson Tide in 2024. He finished the year with 40 total tackles, including 7.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks.

     

    Alabama will begin preseason camp in early August ahead of Kalen DeBoer’s second year in charge. The Crimson Tide will open the 2025 season with a trip to Tallahassee to face Florida State.

  • Michael Schumacher’s Honda Fireblade Race Bike Heads to Auction

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda Fireblade Race Bike Heads to Auction

     

    The Honda Fireblade was built by Holzhauer Racing Performance for Schumacher, who used it for test days and track days during his sabbatical from F1.

     

    30 Jun 2025

    Michael Schumacher riding a Honda Fireblade

    Michael Schumacher riding a Honda Fireblade

    Widely regarded as one of the best Formula 1 drivers of all time, Michael Schumacher, like many F1 aces, was also a big fan of two-wheeled motorsport.

     

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

    He was such an avid fan of going fast on a motorcycle, Schumacher took part in a number of IDM Superbike events during downtime from full-time competition in 2008. And he was handy too, clocking a third-place finish at the Pannónia-Ring in Hungary, rounding out the podium behind Martin Bauer and Andreas Meklau. While the bike listed by RM Sotheby’s can’t be the machine used in the above-mentioned race (as it’s a 2010 model), its link to Schumacher and its spec list make it a very interesting lot.

     

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

    It’s fitted with all the mods and custom parts you’d expect for a bike of this era, including a race ECU, managing the traction control and wheelie control. HRP also fitted trick parts, such as a race airbox, oil cooler, new clip-ons, a quick shifter, and an Akrapovič Titan exhaust system. The bike is finished with Schumacher’s chosen bike race number ‘77’, and comes with a signed Schuberth helmet, a pair of gloves and a custom bike cover bearing his and the bike builder’s names.

     

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

    Michael Schumacher’s Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

    Obviously, any vehicle bearing a link to one of the F1’s modern-day greats is going to command a healthy premium, and this Fireblade is no different, with a €25,000 to €35,000 estimate. It’s being offered with no reserve by RM Sotheby’s, and will be rolling over the auction block at some point between July 23 and 30. Joining the bike in the auction are a number of other interesting lots from F1 legends, including race-worn items from Ayrton Senna, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and many more.

     

    You can check out the auction for yourself over on the official website.

     

    Images: Fabian Boehm & RM Sotheby’s

     

    Find the latest motorcycle news on Visordown.com

  • Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Heading to 9th World Championships

    Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Heading to 9th World Championships

     

     

    At 37 years old, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues to defy time, expectations, and her competitors. The Jamaican sprint queen has officially qualified for her ninth World Athletics Championships, a feat that highlights not just her longevity but her enduring greatness in a sport where youth often dominates. Set to compete in the 2025 edition of the Championships, Fraser-Pryce remains a symbol of excellence and determination, inspiring both seasoned athletes and young hopefuls across the globe.

     

    Appearing on the SportsMax Zone, Fraser-Pryce confirmed her commitment to represent Jamaica once again on the world stage. This comes after months of speculation about whether she would retire before the Paris Olympics or wind down her illustrious career following the Jamaican trials. Instead, she delivered a vintage performance at the National Stadium in Kingston, clocking a season-best to book her ticket to the global showdown.

     

    Fraser-Pryce’s journey to her ninth World Championships has been nothing short of phenomenal. Since bursting onto the scene in 2008 with an Olympic gold in Beijing, she has amassed ten World Championship medals, including five golds in the 100m, making her the most decorated female sprinter in the event’s history. Her technical precision, explosive starts, and championship mindset have kept her at the top even as new talents continue to emerge.

     

    What makes this latest achievement even more remarkable is the context. Unlike previous years, Fraser-Pryce is now balancing elite sprinting with motherhood and the physical challenges of aging. Yet she continues to clock sub-11-second performances, a benchmark most sprinters struggle to meet even in their prime. Her dedication to recovery, nutrition, and intelligent training under coach Reynaldo Walcott has allowed her to sustain peak form well into her late 30s.

     

    Appearing relaxed and optimistic during the SportsMax Zone interview, Fraser-Pryce shared that her motivation goes beyond medals. “It’s about showing that greatness has no age limit,” she said. “I’m still hungry, still enjoying the process, and most importantly, still feel like I have more to give to the sport.”

     

    Jamaica’s sprint depth remains strong with talents like Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and rising stars like Alana Reid and the Clayton twins. Yet Fraser-Pryce’s presence adds invaluable experience and leadership to the team. Her calm under pressure, fierce competitiveness, and poise on the world stage continue to serve as a blueprint for younger athletes.

     

    Looking ahead to the 2025 World Championships, many fans are already speculating whether Fraser-Pryce will go for one last individual gold or use the event as a springboard into the Paris Olympics. Regardless of the outcome, her ninth appearance alone cements her legacy as one of the greatest sprinters—not just in Jamaican history—but in world athletics.

     

    In a world that often moves on quickly from aging athletes, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is writing her own story—one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of excellence. As she heads to her ninth World Championships, the world will be watching, cheering, and perhaps witnessing history once again.

     

     

     

     

  • Former University of Wisconsin star Nigel Hayes-Davis headed back to NBA

    Former University of Wisconsin star Nigel Hayes-Davis headed back to NBA

     

     

    MADISON – Nigel Hayes-Davis has worked his way back to the NBA.

     

    The former University of Wisconsin star, who hasn’t played in the league since 2018, has signed a fully guaranteed one-year contract with the Phoenix Suns, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported June 30.

     

    The deal should give the 30-year-old his most extensive look in the league. The 6-foot-8 forward was a part of four organizations during his only season, 2017-18. He started the year with New York but was waived before the season. He then had 10-day contracts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings.

     

    Between those three teams he played nine games.

     

    His career, however, took off in Europe.

     

    He has played for four EuroLeague teams since 2018. He has played the past three years for Fenerbahce, competing for the team in the EuroLeague as well as Turkey’s top pro league.

     

    In May, he led Fenerbahce to its second EuroLeague championship, claiming Final Four MVP honors after finishing with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds in an 81-70 victory over AS Monaco in the final.

     

    That performance proved to be Hayes-Davis’ springboard back into the NBA.

  • Jahmyr Gibbs contract projection: Lions RB could reset the market in 2026

    Jahmyr Gibbs contract projection: Lions RB could reset the market in 2026

     

    What numbers are the Lions looking at for Jahmyr Gibbs if they want to keep their running back?

     

    Rohan Chakravarthi has contributed to SB Nation’s NFL coverage since 2022.

    The Detroit Lions have been one of the top scouting teams in the NFL over the past two years, and the 2023 NFL Draft was one of their best in recent memory.

     

    Detroit nabbed four top-tier starters with their first four picks: running back Jahmyr Gibbs (first round), linebacker Jack Campbell (first round), tight end Sam LaPorta (second round), and safety Brian Branch (second round).

     

    Gibbs, LaPorta, and Branch have all made the Pro Bowl, with the running back being the lone two-timer to begin his career. He’s formed a strong duo with veteran David Montgomery, helping aid one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL.

     

    As the former first-rounder enters his third year with the NFL, he’s already become one of the best backs in the NFL, rushing for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns, while catching 52 passes for 517 yards and four scores as a second-year pro.

     

    So, of course, the conversation of Gibbs potentially being the highest-paid back in the NFL has started to come up. The running back can begin extension talks starting next offseason, potentially becoming the next homegrown star for years to come in Detroit.

     

    What could a potential extension look like?

     

    Baseline numbers for a Jahmyr Gibbs contract

    Well, given his current trajectory, Gibbs could very well be the highest-paid running back in the NFL next offseason.

     

    Saquon Barkley reset the market this offseason with a two-year, $41.2 million extension, topping Christian McCaffrey’s two-year, $38 million extension from last offseason. Derrick Henry also got a two-year, $30 million deal, coming in third behind the top two.

     

    A key to note is Barkley and McCaffrey each had two years left on their remaining deal. Barkley’s total compensation now is four years for $68.7 million, while McCaffrey’s total compensation was four years for $61.8 million.

     

    Those two deals seem like the best baselines for a Gibbs deal, and it’s noteworthy that the Lions star is several years younger than both of his fellow running backs.

     

    Other running backs who could be in line for an extension this offseason or next offseason could be Jonathan Taylor, Joe Mixon, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, James Cook, Devon Achane, Bijan Robinson, and Isiah Pacheco.

     

    Those numbers could end up changing what Gibbs could demand, but let’s attempt to project a potential extension for the star back.

     

    Projecting a Jahmyr Gibbs contract for the Lions in 2026

    Gibbs has made the Pro Bowl in his first two seasons, while really breaking out this past season with nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

     

    So, the bar has already been set high when it comes to his contract extension. It feels that Gibbs should end up getting a market-setting deal, with a four-year extension being on par with other running back extensions, as well as the Lions’ standard.

     

    Barkley’s $20.6 million average annual value currently leads the way for running backs, so that’s the benchmark. Guaranteed money will also be important. Looking back at previous extensions, Christian McCaffrey got $38 million in total guarantees on his four-year, $64 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

     

    The Lions will likely add void years to spread out cap hits, and they’ll also have two years left on Gibbs’s rookie deal, including the fifth-year option that Detroit should pick up next year. That will help balance out the new money on a Gibbs extension, as the total compensation will be spread out over six years, not including any void years.

     

    Gibbs could also choose to look for a three-year deal to get to the free agent market earlier, but contracts are usually renegotiated when there’s no guaranteed money remaining. So, he should end up getting another extension if he remains a top-tier back throughout his 20s.

     

    Ultimately, I think Gibbs will break the bank, setting records in a number of major categories.

     

    Projection: 4 years, $84 million, $44 million in guarantees

  • Lions 2025 training camp preview: Can Hendon Hooker stick as QB2?

    Lions 2025 training camp preview: Can Hendon Hooker stick as QB2?

     

    With Lions training camp on the horizon, we are bringing back our camp preview series. Quarterbacks are the first position group on the docket.

     

    As we inch closer to the Detroit Lions’ 2025 training camp, we are bringing back our roster preview series to help prepare you for all the end-of-summer festivities. If you’re not familiar with this series, we guide you position-by-position through the roster, examining the starting, reserve, and specialty roles, which players are competing for which jobs, and project how the Lions will approach each situation.

     

    In this initial installment, we turn our attention to the quarterback position, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many of the reserves make the 53-man roster.

     

    Setting the table

    The Lions ended the 2024 season with four quarterbacks under contract.

    Starter Jared Goff and reserve Hendon Hooker remain under contract in 2025, Teddy Bridgewater returned to coaching high school football in Florida, and practice squader Jake Fromm signed a futures contract in January. When the free agency period opened, the Lions signed veteran Kyle Allen to a one-year contract, and just over a month later, released Fromm from his deal.

     

    Roster construction

    During the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have taken slightly different approaches to the quarterback position in each season.

    However, the underlying philosophy has remained consistent: keep two quarterbacks on the active roster and one on the practice squad during the regular season, while also maintaining the flexibility to add another quarterback to the active roster late in the season and playoffs for emergency purposes.

     

    Let’s take a look at what they’ve done in the previous four seasons:

     

    2021: The Lions kept three quarterbacks on the active roster, including Goff, David Blough, and Tim Boyle, mainly due to the NFL’s COVID restrictions.

    2022: Goff and Nate Sudfeld were on the active roster—Boyle was on the practice squad.

    2023: Goff and Bridgewater were on the active roster, Blough on the practice squad, Sudfeld was on injured reserve, and Hooker on the PUP list. Hooker would eventually be removed from the PUP and placed on the active roster late in the season.

    2024: Goff and Hooker were on the active roster, with Fromm on the practice squad. Bridgewater would rejoin the active roster late in the season as the Lions’ “emergency third quarterback,” but assumed QB2 duties for the playoffs, with Hooker acting as the Lions’ EQB3.

    The battleground

    Entering 2025 training camp, Goff is once again the established starter, leaving only a couple of questions for this position group.

     

    Can Hooker hold off Allen for the Lions QB2 job?

     

    Hooker won the Lions’ QB2 job in 2024 and maintained the role throughout the regular season, but he was jumped on the game-day depth chart for the playoffs when the Lions opted to turn to Bridgewater for their backup role. While it’s easy to argue that the Lions lost faith in Hooker for the playoffs, I believe the move was made because of the team’s unrelenting confidence in Bridgewater, as opposed to a lack of confidence in Hooker.

    At the same time, the decision certainly opens the door for criticism of Hooker and allows for speculation on his current status on the depth chart.

     

    With 19 NFL starts, Allen brings more experience than Hooker to the competition, but it’s important to note that the majority of his game exposure came early in his career (2018-19), and he has been relegated to a reserve role for the last five seasons. For context, Allen was QB2 on his respective roster from 2020 to 2023, but he was behind quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Taylor Heinicke (Washington), Davis Mills (Houston), and Josh Allen (Buffalo). Last season in Pittsburgh, he was QB3 behind Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, only seeing the field for a total of two snaps (Wilson was injured and Fields was being examined for a concussion).

     

    During training camp, look for the Lions to give Hooker and Allen an opportunity to earn the QB2 role, likely rotating days where each practices with the second-team offense.

     

    Would Hooker or Allen accept a position on the practice squad?

     

    Seeing as the Lions routinely only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster, it’s fair to speculate whether either Hooker or Allen would accept a spot on the practice squad—seeing as both have spent the majority of their careers on the active roster.

     

    Regarding Hooker, there’s enough upside to his game that, if released, it’s entirely possible he wouldn’t even get the opportunity to join the practice squad, as he would be exposed to waivers. It’s also possible he seeks out an opportunity that would afford him a better shot at competing for a starting role. As for Allen, he may be interested in exploring other options, as he’s historically found a role as a higher-level backup.

     

    Will the Lions add a fourth quarterback?

     

    In an ideal situation, the Lions would prefer to roll with just three quarterbacks during camp, allowing them to utilize the extra roster spots on different position groups. However, if the Lions aren’t confident they could get either backup to their practice squad, or if either backup suffers an injury, the Lions may consider adding a fourth quarterback to their training camp battle.

     

    For example, when Hooker was injured during last year’s camp, the Lions added Fromm for depth purposes. Fromm’s performance in the Lions’ final preseason game earned him some extra looks, and he was eventually rewarded with a spot on the Lions’ practice squad.

  • Sprinter who claimed to beat Usain Bolt’s 150m world record could be jailed after allegations of violence

    Sprinter who claimed to beat Usain Bolt’s 150m world record could be jailed after allegations of violence

     

    A sprinter who previously claimed that he had beaten Usain Bolt’s 150m record is at risk of serving jail time.

     

    Fred Kerley won Olympic silver and bronze at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games and even claimed that he’d broken Bolt’s 14.35s 150m record, which the Jamaican set in Manchester in May 2009.

     

    Kerley, 30, posted a video of himself running the distance to his Instagram in 2022 and claimed that he clocked a time of 14.01s – although this is not an official record.

     

    Sprinter tells her side of story behind batton ‘attack’

    And the 30-year-old has also claimed that he would defeat current Olympic 100m champion Noah Lyles in a one-on-one sprint race.

     

     

     

    But away from the track, Kerley has huge personal issues to resolve.

     

    As reported by the Washington Post on Monday (June 30), in January, Kerley and his girlfriend returned to their car near Miami Beach only to find it roped off by police.

     

    An argument reportedly ensued, and body-cam footage shows that four officers restrained him.

     

    Fred Kerley with his Olympic bronze medal in 2024

    Fred Kerley with his Olympic bronze medal in 2024

     

     

    This altercation was the first before a string of charges against Kerley, meaning he could face time in jail.

     

    The WP claims that “the charges include two misdemeanors and a felony stemming from an altercation with police that included him being Tasered; an allegation of domestic violence made in 2024 by his now-estranged wife” as well as “allegedly punching an Olympian ex-girlfriend at a hotel in Miami before a track meet”.

     

    Kerley has pleaded not guilty in all three cases.

     

    His lawyer, Richard Cooper, believes all charges will be dismissed.

     

     

     

    “I just don’t think that someone gets to this level of athletic performance by being a quitter or by being someone that wallows in their suffering,” said Cooper.

     

     

    Meanwhile, a statement from USA Track & Field claimed that Kerley remains eligible to compete in its national championships, which begin in July 2025.

     

    “USATF is monitoring Fred Kerley’s ongoing legal situation carefully and although he faces serious allegations, he also has the right to compete in certain track and field meetings (protected competitions),” a statement from the body read.

     

     

     

    “USATF is determined to provide a safe environment for all our community with a zero tolerance policy on any form of violent behavior.”

     

     

  • The Texas One Fund carries on in support of Longhorns as the House era start

    The Texas One Fund carries on in support of Longhorns as the House era start

     

    exas HC Steve Sarkisian leads the Longhorns out of the tunnel against Colorado State

     

    As the calendar turned to July 1 and the era of college athletics under the guidelines of the House v. NCAA case settlement began, the status of Name, Image, and Likeness collectives like the Texas One Fund was up in the air. Schools are going to be able to directly pay student-athletes as part of a revenue sharing model. No need for collectives anymore, right?

     

    Actually, there is still a need, and the Texas One Fund is not going anywhere.

     

    Texas One Fund president Patrick “Wheels” Smith told Inside Texas on Monday that the Longhorns’ primary NIL collective will continue operating and providing direct support to UT student-athletes even as athletic departments pay their athletes for ‘publicity rights.’ The mission and end goal of the Texas One Fund remains the same, providing fans with a way to directly support Texas Longhorns athletes in all sports and facilitating payments to them. The way that money will get to players just has to look a little different.

     

    “July 1 and after July 1, that core mission and purpose remains,” Smith told Inside Texas. “All your donations are now going to now be membership contributions. Those are going to go to directly impacting winning at Texas, period. Recruiting. Retention. All those things. That money was going to NIL opportunities for kids. What once was charitable is now going to be on a for-profit brand side.”

     

    Put simply, fans who want to support players can achieve their goal by supporting the Texas One Fund even as the collective begins operating in the House era.

     

    The Texas One Fund’s main method of providing NIL payments to Texas athletes for most of its history was to connect Longhorns to charitable causes in and around the Austin area. Student-athletes would receive payment from the Texas One Fund for appearing at a charitable event or cause and promoting it on social media.

     

    Because of the House settlement, those types of deals are no longer allowed. To respond, Texas One Fund over time shifted many of its agreements from the non-profit variety to more for-profit associations like with local businesses and car dealerships. Ahead of July 1, Smith and company hustled to ensure all agreements and deals with charitable aspects were completed. Now, the Texas One Fund will operate as a for-profit entity and the non-profit aspect of it will go dormant.

     

    A Night for Texas from the Texas One Fund

    A Night for Texas from the Texas One Fund (photo special to Inside Texas)

    As a result, donations to the Texas One Fund will no longer be tax deductible. However, TOF donations will still accrue Longhorn Foundation Loyalty Points at the rate of two points per $100 donated.

     

    IT asked Smith directly if the Texas One Fund was going to remain independent.

     

    “We are fully independent, and we should be because having independence helps Texas as much as it helps us,” Smith said. “We can move, adapt, and change and float whatever necessary.”

     

    The Texas One Fund will send an email from Smith to donors today outlining some of the changes being made to the collective. It explains how in 2023, “with eyes on the future of the NIL era, Texas One formed a limited liability company for the purposes of obtaining brand deals and enhancing business partnerships for our student-athletes.” That model is ready to go.

     

    “We will continue to provide the very best that NIL has to offer,” the email states.

     

    Members will be able to access new benefits, too. The Texas One Fund will allow members the opportunity to take part in or receive “exclusive memorabilia, content, and opportunities to interact with some of your favorite Longhorn coaches and athletes through private events, clubs, and more.” At previous Texas One Fund events, fans have been able to bid on opportunities to travel with Vic Schaefer’s women’s basketball team or go on a mock “official visit” with Steve Sarkisian’s program.

     

    “Now you become a member of Texas One, and we’re going to beef up more of that and try to get people more experiences,” Smith said. “But really with that money, continue to provide this time instead of promoting a non-profit, they’ll be doing brand deals for third parties.”

     

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    Smith reiterated several times that the continued mission of the Texas One Fund is critical for the entire athletic department. House revenue sharing payments only go so far. That’s not just for the sports like football, which at Texas will receive 75% of the money available for student-athletes.

    It’s for the entire athletic department including baseball, softball, volleyball, and more. Smith said the Texas One Fund has to provide opportunities for athletes in all sports so that the Longhorns can achieve athletic director Chris Del Conte’s goal of national title contention in every sport.

     

    “What we’re going to need and what Texas is going to need is people to continue to give monthly,” Smith said. “We will and have figured out the best ways to implement that with athletes.”

     

    Even with House restrictions in effect, the landscape is likely to change again at some point. The Deloitte “NIL Go” clearinghouse meant to determine whether NIL deals are in line with fair market value already looks like an easy target for lawsuits. Whether change is to come from challenges to the clearinghouse or challenges elsewhere, Smith knows the Texas One Fund has to be ready to adapt. He believes it is.

     

    “We’re going to be ready for what is July 5 rules, but with an eye towards if those go away, we’re going to be full system go this way,” Smith said. “If they are modified this way, here’s how we’re going to pivot. Just staying on top of it.”

     

    While the way the money is being processed had to change, the end goal of the Texas One Fund did not. Smith reiterated how important donations to the Texas One Fund were to not just the Longhorn football program as it rose out of 5-7 depths, but also to baseball’s first-year success in the SEC and softball’s national championship efforts.

     

    And to keep those successes in all sports going, continued support of the Texas One Fund is something Smith labeled as essential.

     

    “It’s directly because we had people step up,” Smith said. “It had a direct impact on what we’re doing.”

  • Who claims the bragging rights? Julien Alfred faces USA’s and Jamaica’s fastest in ‘deepest’ Diamond League 100m race

    Who claims the bragging rights? Julien Alfred faces USA’s and Jamaica’s fastest in ‘deepest’ Diamond League 100m race

     

    In arguably the deepest Diamond League women’s 100m Race, Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Jefferson-Wooden will face off against Jamaica’s and the world’s fastest at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.

    Track fans can anticipate an exciting showdown at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5 as Olympic champion Julien Alfred is scheduled to face USA’s and Jamaica’s fastest in arguably the deepest Diamond League women’s 100m race.

     

    The lineup features Paris Olympic medallists Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden reigniting their rivalry for the first time this season, and will each be gunning for the bragging rights of a famous win.

     

    Sha’Carri Richardson vs Julien Alfred

    Julien Alfred defeated Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson to clinch Olympic 100m gold in Paris Julien Alfred defeated Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson to clinch Olympic 100m gold in Paris.

    World leader Jefferson-Wooden has improved tremendously this year, dropping dominant performances at the Grand Slam Track League. She’s unbeaten in the 100m and her personal best of 10.73s makes her the fastest this year – arguably the woman to beat.

     

    Melissa Jefferson-Wooden Reveals Top Goal After 10.73 PB Ahead of World Championships Against Sha’Carri Richardson and Co

    Melissa Jefferson-Wooden dominated the women’s 100m event at the GST League.

    Alfred, the Olympic champion is also undefeated this season, having a best time of 10.75s, which she clocked to break the 31-year-old meeting record at the Stockholm Diamond League.

     

    Legendary Words: Julien Alfred reveals the wise words Usain Bolt left with her during their iconic meeting

    Legendary Words: Julien Alfred reveals the wise words Usain Bolt left with her during their iconic meeting

    Richardson, the Olympic silver medalist ranks lowest this year among the three. She’s yet to achieve a sub-11s time, which she’ll have the chance to turn the tide as a win and fast time will prove she’s back and remains the one to beat ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo this summer.

     

    Why Sha’Carri Richardson does not regret missing out on 100m Olympic gold

    Sha’Carri Richardson (L) settled for 100m silver medal behind Julien Alfred at the Paris Olympic Games. Photo

    However, the trio will face tough challenges against newly crowned Jamaican champion Tina Clayton, who clocked a massive personal best of 10.81s to win their national trials, while her twin sister Tia, sadly pulled up in the final, despite equaling her PB of 10.86s in the semis.

     

    Tina Clayton came out second best in Doha Diamond League to sister Tia.

    Tia and Tina Clayton will pose a big challenge for a famous win at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League. (Credit: Imago) Tina Clayton came out second best in Doha Diamond League to sister Tia.

    The twins will aim to prove they can finally rub shoulders with the big guns in the women’s sprint division and are capable of a win on their very good day.

     

    What A Woman: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s consistency through the years making her 13th major national championship team

    What A Woman: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s consistency through the years making her 13th major national championship team

    Also included is Nigeria’s-‘Turkey-bound’ Favour Ofili, who in her last race at the clocked a PB of 10.87s in her qualifying heat at the ATX Classic in Texas and lowered it to a windy 10.78s (3.1) in the final to once again prove she belongs among the world’s best sprinters.

     

     

    Favour Ofili is currently under nationality switch controversy from Nigeria to Turkey

    And completing the stacked field capable of snatching surprise win are: Africa’s fastest woman in history Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith with a Season’s Best (SB) time of 10.92s, USA’s Twanisha Tee Tee Terry with SB of 10.85s (world No.4), and Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith.

     

    Any of the listed names are capable of taking the win, and whoever wins will surely have the bragging rights of being the woman to beat ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo this summer.