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  • 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.

  • Justin Gatlin on Why Asafa Powell Was Right After 4 Athletes Dump Jamaica For Turkey

    Justin Gatlin on Why Asafa Powell Was Right After 4 Athletes Dump Jamaica For Turkey

     

    Roje Stona (R) and Rajindra Campbell (L). Inset: Asafa Powell with Justin Gatlin.

    Justin Gatlin has joined Asafa Powell in wanting Jamaica to increase its track and field athletes’ welfare following Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell’s decision to switch allegiances to Turkey.

    American sprint legend Justin Gatlin has thrown his support behind former rival Asafa Powell, echoing concerns about the treatment and welfare of Jamaican athletes.

     

    The endorsement comes in the wake of a series of high-profile defections from Jamaica’s track and field team to Turkey, raising fresh questions about athlete support and administration in one of track’s most storied nations.

     

    Earlier this month, a wave of allegiance switches rocked Jamaican athletics. First reported by veteran journalist Kayon Raynor, the exodus began with Olympic discus champion Roje Stona and shot put bronze medalist Rajindra Campbell, Jamaica’s only Olympic medalists in throwing events.

     

    Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

     

    ‘She Showed That I Should Have Stayed Longer’ – Usain Bolt Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

    ‘The blow was compounded by the loss of Jaydon Hibbert, the 19-year-old triple jump sensation who owns the nine best junior marks in history, and Wayne Pinnock, a consistent silver medalist in the long jump on the global stage.

     

    Just days later, Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili joined the Jamaican quartet in declaring for Turkey.

     

    The defections have not only significantly weakened Jamaica’s medal hopes but have also placed the Jamaican Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) under intense scrutiny.

     

    While fans and commentators debate the long-term implications, Justin Gatlin has weighed in with a clear message: he stands with the athletes.

     

    Justin Gatlin: Athletes Need to Feel Appreciated

    Justin Gatlin on Why Asafa Powell Was Right After 4 Athletes Dump Jamaica For Turkey

    Justin Gatlin has given verdict on YouTuber IShowSpeed after interaction with Usain Bolt.

    “I’m for the athletes 100%,” Gatlin said on his Ready Set Go podcast. “At the end of the day, the reality is: athletes only get one career. That’s it. You have to make the best of it.”

     

     

    Kishane Thompson: Why Jamaican Sprinter is Unimpressed Despite Clocking Fastest Time Since 2015

    Gatlin emphasised the economic and professional realities that athletes face in an increasingly globalized sporting world.

     

    “If you know you’re talented enough to showcase your ability on a global stage and stand on top of the podium, that puts you in a very small percentage of people who can truly be successful in this world. If I were in that situation — I would switch.

     

    “ It’s going to be lucrative. All my hard work would finally pay off. And most importantly, I’d feel appreciated. I’d be treated like a true professional athlete.”

     

    He also criticized aspects of the sport that, in his view, still function at an amateur level, despite the athletes being considered professionals.

     

    “We say we’re professionals, but so much is still handled in an amateur way. That’s just the reality. And this isn’t to knock Jamaica or their federation — we don’t know what’s happening behind closed doors. Maybe there just isn’t enough money to take care of the athletes the way they should.”

     

    Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Moved by Usain Bolt’s Support in Her Final Race on Jamaican Soil

    Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Moved by Usain Bolt’s Support in Her Final Race on Jamaican Soil

    Justin Gatlin on Why Asafa Powell Was Right After 4 Athletes Dump Jamaica For Turkey

    Asafa Powell is one of the greatest sprinters in athletics history | IMAGO Asafa Powell is one of the greatest sprinters in athletics history

    Gatlin also referenced a video from retired Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell published back in April on his YouTube channel, who openly questioned whether he would choose to represent Jamaica again if given a second chance after once turning down a lucrative opportunity to represent another nation in 2006..

     

    “Remember what Asafa said? ‘If I had the decision to make all over again, I would. And I don’t think my kids will run for Jamaica unless things change.’ No athlete spoke out against that. He was telling the truth — and it aged well. It definitely aged well.”

     

    As Powell’s comments continue to resonate, and as elite talent seeks opportunities abroad, the JAAA faces growing pressure to reassess its athlete support structures and funding transparency.

  • Elite 11 star, Texas commit Dia Bell leads the Longhorns’ recruiting charge

    Elite 11 star, Texas commit Dia Bell leads the Longhorns’ recruiting charge

     

     

    Chris Stewart and Dia Bell

    It’s been nearly a year and two weeks since Dia Bell, son of former NBA player Raja Bell and On3’s No. 4 player in the class of 2026, committed to the University of Texas.

     

    While it’s not uncommon for head coaches to seek out a commitment from their QB early in the recruiting cycle, it’s fairly unprecedented to see a player commit to a school over 26 months before they’re even able to play their first snap in college football. But for Bell, the future of the Longhorns’ offense, the commitment was fairly simple.

     

    “I felt like that place for me was somewhere I could thrive,” Bell told the Cover 3 Podcast. “My parents are always looking for somewhere that I can get academics as well as play at the highest level and learn from people that are going to get me to the highest level as well. I felt like Texas fit both of those worlds into one. The staff always made it a second home away from home.”

     

    Bell spent time last week talking to Cover 3 about everything from Elite 11 to Arch Manning, but one thing has stayed the same in his rhetoric since June of last year: he will remain a Longhorn throughout this recruiting process. Bell made it clear once again that Texas is his place to be, and with that comes a job that many QBs of a recruiting class are tasked with doing.

     

    With his recruitment shut down since that June commitment, Bell has turned from recruit to recruiter, working to help convince players on both sides of the ball to commit to Texas.

     

    “Building relationships with all of these kids at these camps and 7-on-7s has been a great experience for me in coming out of my shell,” Bell said. “I’m not very verbal; I’m real quiet. I’m not an outgoing, talkative person. This has made me step out of my comfort zone because these are the guys I want playing with me at Texas. We’re trying to win a national championship, so I’m out there doing my best.”

     

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    Bell mentioned that recruitment plays into competitiveness on the field. One of Bell’s senior opponents will be a future teammate, as Bell’s American Heritage will face CB Hayward Howard’s Edna Carr this upcoming season.

     

    A recent weekend for Bell was filled with recruitment as he accompanied top Texas targets like Tyler Atkinson, John Turntine, Kaydon Finley, and Kendall Guervil on his June 20 official visit to Austin. His impressions must have left a mark on former Oregon commit Richard Wesley, as the California edge rusher committed to the Longhorns shortly after wrapping up his weekend in Austin.

     

    Bell still has some work to do as a recruiter with his offensive playmakers, as do position coaches Chad Scott, Chris Jackson, and Jeff Banks. However, Bell himself is one of the best selling points these coaches can make for bringing a skill player to Austin. It’s already worked with Jermaine Bishop Jr., Kohen Brown, and Chris Stewart, who can be seen all over Instagram interacting with Bell to try to bring players home to Texas.

     

    The Longhorns have their future set at quarterback with Bell, and the Florida native is just getting started as one of head coach Steve Sarkisian’s best assets in recruiting.

  • Meet the commits: 5-star EDGE, 4-star DB propel Michigan into elite territory

    Meet the commits: 5-star EDGE, 4-star DB propel Michigan into elite territory

     

     

     

    Michigan added an elite talent to its loaded defensive line class with five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows— the No. 6 recruit in the country. Four-star defensive back Andre Clarke joined the class fewer than 24 hours later to bolster the secondary.

     

    The Wolverines leapt past Oregon in the On3 Industry Recruiting Rankings and now sits at No. 10 nationally and No. 3 in the Big Ten. Here’s a full breakdown of Michigan’s 19 commits.

     

    Five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows

    Commitment Date: June 29, 2025

    Hometown: Washington, D.C.

    School: Gonzaga Prep

    Height: 6-6.5

    Weight: 225 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 36 nationally, No. 6 edge rusher, No. 1 in Washington, D.C.

    Other Notable Offers: Ohio State, South Carolina, Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas A&M, LSU, Miami, Florida State

     

    How We Got here: Michigan identified Meadows early on as one of its top overall targets in the 2026 class. He made several trips to Ann Arbor, most recently traveling to campus June 20 for a Victors Weekend official visit. The elite recruit and his family both put a lot of value on academics, and Michigan offered them the chance to play for a school with a history of defensive line development while attending a prestigious university. Turns out, U-M was the ideal fit.

     

    Top 100 quarterback Brady Smigiel

    Commitment Date: April 26, 2025

    Hometown: Newbury Park, California

    School: Newbury Park High

    Height: 6-4.5

    Weight: 215 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 92 overall, No. 10 quarterback, No. 13 in California

    Other Notable Offers: Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, Ole Miss, Miami, Georgia

     

    How We Got here: Smigiel strongly considered Michigan last year before Michigan took another 2026 quarterback, and he picked Florida State. Things came full circle for the signal-caller and the Wolverines when Chip Lindsey joined the staff. They already had an existing connection that built quickly after Smigiel reopened his recruitment. Michigan made him the program’s top target and sealed a commitment shortly after a multi-day spring visit.

     

    On300 defensive lineman Titan Davis

    Commitment Date: June 23, 2025

    Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri

    School: DeSmet High

    Height: 6-4

    Weight: 262 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 105 overall, No. 9 defensive lineman, No. 2 in Missouri

    Other Notable Offers: Alabama, USC, Penn State, Oklahoma, LSU, Texas A&M, Miami, Oregon, Texas, Florida

     

    How We Got here: Davis held a long list of Power 4 offers but narrowed his focus to Michigan and Alabama after a May 30 official visit with the Crimson Tide. At that point, he canceled all other visits except his Victors Weekend trip to U-M. He visited Ann Arbor three times over the past year and, on that most recent trip, Michigan surged ahead of Alabama and secured his commitment.

     

    Top 100 offensive tackle Malakai Lee

    Commitment Date: June 27, 2025

    Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

    School: Kamehameha Secondary

    Height: 6-7

    Weight: 310 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 119 overall, No. 11 offensive tackle, No. 2 in Hawaii

    Other Notable Offers: USC, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Oregon, Nebraska, Missouri, BYU

     

    How We Got here: Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome made Lee a top priority very early on in this recruiting cycle and, even as teams like USC or Texas made a push for the elite offensive lineman, the Wolverines remained a super consistent contender. The U-M staff made several trips out to Hawaii to meet with him this year, and Lee spent Victors Weekend in Ann Arbor. That trip helped seal a commitment from the Top 100 prospect.

     

    Top 100 tight end Matt Ludwig

    Commitment Date: May 20, 2025

    Hometown: Billings, Montana

    School: Billings West High

    Height: 6-4.5

    Weight: 240 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 129 overall, No. 7 tight end, No. 1 in Montana

    Other Notable Offers: Georgia, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Texas, LSU, Oregon

     

    How We Got here: Ludwig shut down his recruitment before a packed official visit schedule could kick off. Michigan has been the longtime favorite for the talented tight end, and he took a few trips to Ann Arbor leading into this decision. Tight ends coach Steve Casula visited him Sunday, and Ludwig made his commitment public Tuesday.

     

    On300 edge rusher McHale Blade

    Commitment Date: June 9, 2025

    Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

    School: Simeon Academy

    Height: 6-5

    Weight: 255

    Industry Ranking: No. 155 overall, No. 21 edge rusher, No. 4 in Illinois

    Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, USC, Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Miami

     

    How We Got here: Notre Dame looked like the heavy favorite in Blade’s recruitment for a long time, but Michigan always loomed as a very real challenger for the Fighting Irish. The Wolverines the edge rusher to campus last weekend for his official visit, and that trip showed Blade that Ann Arbor was home for him. He committed to U-M Monday morning after returning home from the visit.

     

    Four-star wide receiver Zion Robinson

    Commitment Date: June 25, 2025

    Hometown: Mansfield, Texas

    School: Mansfield

    Height: 6-2.5

    Weight: 175

    Industry Ranking: No. 160 overall, No. 22 wide receiver, No. 24 in Texas

    Other Notable Offers: Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Miami

     

    How We Got here: Robinson grew up in Ohio before moving to Texas and actually picked up an offer from Michigan in eighth grade. The Wolverines really ramped up their interest in the explosive receiver early this year and hosted him in the spring before welcoming him back to campus for a May 30 official visits. He took trips to Texas Tech, Miami, Nebraska and Stanford after that, but the Michigan momentum around his recruitment persisted and led to a commitment.

     

    Four-star safety Andre Clarke

    Commitment Date: June 30, 2025

    Hometown: Richmond, Va.

    School: Hermitage High

    Height: 6-0

    Weight: 165

    Industry Ranking: No. 185 overall, No. 16 safety, No. 6 in Virginia

    Other Notable Offers: Tennessee, Miami, Florida State, South Carolina, Washington, Ole Miss, Kentucky

     

    How We Got here: Michigan sat in a solid spot with Clarke for most of this year before surging into first-place during his June 13 official visit. The Wolverines like him at cornerback and prioritized the versatile defensive back. He also took official visits to SMU, Syracuse and Kentucky before ending his travel schedule in Ann Arbor.

     

    On300 cornerback Brody Jennings

    Commitment Date: July 28, 2024

    Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

    School: Mandarin High

    Height: 6-1

    Weight: 185

    Industry Ranking: No. 294 overall, No. 29 cornerback, No. 41 in Florida

    Other Notable Offers: Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Florida

     

    How We Got here: Jennings was one of Michigan’s earliest commits and is now the longest-standing pledge in the class. The Wolverines identified and prioritized him early. Now, his recruitment has blown up to include a ton of SEC programs that have his interest. He recently took an OV to Auburn and has trips planned to Miami, Florida and Georgia before spending Victors Weekend in Ann Arbor.

     

    Four-star defensive lineman Alister Vallejo

    Commitment Date: June 10, 2025

    Hometown: Liberty Hill, Texas

    School: Liberty Hill High

    Height: 6-3

    Weight: 310 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 349 overall, No. 35 defensive lineman, No. 44 in Texas

    Other Notable Offers: Notre Dame, SMU, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, Baylor, Arizona

     

    How We Got here: Michigan offered Vallejo April 15 and prioritized him from there. He’s an underrated interior defensive line prospect, and the Wolverines really pushed for him. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito visited him in Texas during May’s evaluation period. Then, Vallejo made trips to Notre Dame and Kansas. He did not officially visit Michigan before his decision. Turns out, he did not need to.

     

    On300 offensive lineman Marky Walbridge

    Commitment Date: June 25, 2025

    Hometown: Needham, Mass.

    School: St. Sebastian’s

    Height: 6-5.5

    Weight: 285 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 396 overall, No. 32 offensive lineman, No. 2 in Massachusetts

    Other Notable Offers: Ohio State, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Penn State, Boston College, Wisconsin

     

    How We Got here: Walbridge kept his recruitment very low-key, but Michigan always stood out as a real contender. Boston College was the Wolverines’ main challenger in the end as the Eagles battled to keep him home, but U-M won out after a Victors Weekend official visit.

     

    Three-star tight end Mason Bonner

    Commitment Date: May 22, 2025

    Hometown: Denver, Colorado

    School: Mullen High

    Height: 6-6

    Weight: 200 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 445 overall, No. 22 tight end, No. 4 in Colorado

    Other Notable Offers: Miami, Penn State, Nebraska, Texas Tech, Arizona, Missouri, Kansas State

     

    How We Got here: Michigan offered Bonner late last year and made him a clear priority from that point on. The Wolverines visited him in January and hosted him on his first visit in March. Going into official visits, he narrowed things down to just Michigan and Minnesota, setting official visits with both programs. Then, Steve Casula visited him this spring and helped lock up a commitment.

     

    Three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter

    Commitment Date: February 28, 2025

    Hometown: Cartersville, Georgia

    School: Cass High

    Height: 6-3

    Weight: 308 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 576 overall, No. 52 interior offensive lineman, No. 64 in Georgia

    Other Notable Offers: Miami, Texas, Auburn, Georgia, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Florida, South Carolina

     

    How We Got here: McWhorter shocked many when he picked Michigan over Alabama early this year. He’s named after Bear Bryant and grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide, but no one recruited the offensive lineman harder than Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome. After taking a January trip to U-M, the Wolverines established themselves as the favorite for the coveted three-star prospect.

     

    Three-star edge rusher Tariq Boney

    Commitment Date: April 26, 2025

    Hometown: Washington, D.C.

    School: St. John’s

    Height: 6-1

    Weight: 230

    Industry Ranking: No. 651 overall, No. 65 edge rusher, No. 4 in D.C.

    Other Notable Offers: Tennessee, Texas A&M, Washington, Penn State, Wisconsin, Georgia, Marlyland

     

    How We Got here: Boney picked Michigan over Cincinnati, Tulane and West Virginia. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito prioritized him this spring, and the explosive edge rusher visited in April before pledging to the program.

     

    Three-star linebacker Markel Dabney

    Commitment Date: June 27, 2025

    Hometown: Chester, Va.

    School: Huguenot High

    Height: 6-1

    Weight: 210 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 808 overall, No. 68 linebacker, No. 16 in Virginia

    Other Notable Offers: South Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida State, Indiana, Miami

     

    How We Got here: Michigan was the favorite in Dabney’s recruitment for a significant chunk of the spring, but he made a fairly surprising commitment to SMU in May. The Wolverines kept pushing for the priority linebacker and hosted him for a June 13 official visit and welcomed him back to campus later that same week for a 7-on-7 camp. Dabney flipped to Michigan soon after those trips.

     

    Three-star wide receiver Jaylen Pile

    Commitment Date: October 17, 2024

    Hometown: Dallas, Texas

    School: Parish Episcopal School

    Height: 6-0

    Weight: 178

    Industry Ranking: No. 891 overall, No. 134 wide receiver, No. 133 in Texas

    Other Notable Offers: Oklahoma, Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Tennessee, Florida State, Auburn

     

    How We Got here: Pile is one of the foundational members of this class. He committed last fall and remains locked in with the program. The receiver stopped by Ann Arbor for the Texas Game before making his commitment later in the fall. Pile is probably the most vocal recruiter in the class.

     

    Three-star running back Jonathan Brown

    Commitment Date: June 21, 2025

    Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

    School: St. Francis DeSales

    Height: 6-1

    Weight: 200 pounds

    Industry Ranking: No. 995 overall, No. 62 running back, No. 40 in Ohio

    Other Notable Offers: Rutgers, Toledo, Kent State

     

    How We Got here: Michigan running backs coach Tony Alford watched Brown work out twice this summer, once in Ann Arbor and again at the Sound Mind Sound Body showcase at Wayne State. The three-star rising senior impressed the staff enough to earn an offer, and he did not wait long to commit.

     

    Three-star kicker Micah Drescher

    Commitment Date: June 18, 2025

    Hometown: Hinsdale, Illinois

    School: Hinsdale Central

    Height: 6-3

    Weight: 190 pounds

    On3 Ranking: No. 9 kicker overall, No. 50 recruit in Illinois

    Other Notable Offers: Northwestern, UConn

     

    How We Got here: Drescher committed to Michigan over a recent scholarship offer from Northwestern. He visited this spring and decided to shut down his recruitment in June with a full ride on the table from the Wolverines.

     

    Three-star long snapper Colton Dermer

    Commitment Date: June 14, 2025

    Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

    School: Sandra Day O’Connor High

    Height: 6-1

    Weight: 235 pounds

    On3 Ranking: No. 5 long snapper overall, No. 31 in Arizona

    Other Notable Offers: Alabama, Northern Arizona

     

    How we got here: Dermer visited Michigan this spring and picked up an offer from the Wolverines June 13. Fewer than 24 hours later, he locked in his commitment to U-M.

  • The 5 Best Prog Metal Covers of Black Sabbath Songs

    The 5 Best Prog Metal Covers of Black Sabbath Songs

     

    Chris Walter, WireImage / Ethan Miller, Getty Images / Scott Dudelson, Getty Images

     

    Paul Natkin, Archives Photos/Getty Images

    Opeth, “Solitude”

    Recorded live at Stockholm’s Sodra Teatern in 2012, Opeth’s rendition of Master of Reality’s penultimate cut is the only Black Sabbath song they’ve ever formally covered. It released as a bonus track on 2014’s Pale Communion, and according to frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt, they’d been playing it since “the early ‘90s.”

     

    In a nutshell, Opeth stick very closely to the Birmingham quartet’s surprisingly gentle and pastoral vision, with a bit less Moody Blues-esque psychedelic floweriness and a bit more Middle Eastern twang thanks to its marginal increase in fancy guitarwork. It’s slightly more biting and grounded (and less dreamy) as well, and it could just as easily be an Opeth original.

     

    It’s perhaps the safest entry here, yet also one that epitomizes how the best covers are often as authentic to the initial creators as they are to the artists reimagining them.

     

    Queensrÿche, “Neon Knights”

    Heaven and Hell is routinely voted as one of Black Sabbath’s strongest LPs, and explosive opener “Neon Knights” plays as large a role in that distinction as anything else in the collection. That’s why Queensrÿche had quite the task in front of them when they chose to tackle it on 2007’s appropriately named Take Cover (which was sandwiched between two of their weakest efforts: 2007’s Operation: Mindcrime II and 2009’s American Solider).

     

    They may’ve been lacking artistically when it came to their own material during that time, but they pretty much sound as energized and focused as ever on “Neon Knights.”

     

    It’s almost identical structurally and Geoff Tate’s soaring voice still doesn’t outdo Dio’s show-stopping performance. Even so, they do a killer job injecting their own flavors into Black Sabbath’s template with respectfulness and resourcefulness.

     

    In that way, it’s an endearing example of a quintessential progressive metal forebear bowing down and paying homage to one of their eminent forefathers.

     

    Coheed and Cambria, “Heaven and Hell”

    Given that they rarely border on straightforward heavy metal, you might not expect Coheed and Cambria to throw a Black Sabbath song into one of their trademark emo/prog rock/prog metal live sets. However, they toured with Heaven and Hell back in 2009, and they performed “Heaven and Hell” periodically during the second half of 2012.

     

    Whereas the eponymous Side A closer of Black Sabbath’s 1980 album (their first with Ronnie James Dio replacing Ozzy Osbourne) was typically sludgy, gritty and gloomy, Coheed and Cambria pass some of that muckiness through a brighter, cleaner and more vibrant and epic filter.

     

    Singer Claudio Sanchez’s distinctively high-pitched outcries make their version operatic, too, and although they lose the calm acoustic guitar outro, their electrifying closing jam is sufficiently awesome and idiosyncratic.

     

    It’s not as “proggy” as some might anticipate, but it’s nonetheless a resourceful revision that wouldn’t have been too out of place on one of their early 2010s sequences.

     

     

    Faroese foursome Týr are commonly credited as a power/folk/Viking metal ensemble, but they also incorporate ample amounts of progressive metal into their legendary conqueror persona. Their adaptation of “I” showcases that well by mixing the core rage and dynamic range of the Dehumanizer standout with Týr’s requisite sleek production and triumphant/motivational war-ready edge.

     

    In a sense, their fiercer tone and multilayered arrangement is what might happen of Black Sabbath’s design was retooled for the newer God of War video games or any other recent pop culture depiction of Norse or Greek mythology.

     

    Both instrumentally and vocally, it’s twice as adrenaline-fueled and magnificent, with the chorus sounding like it’s being sung by a dozen warriors ready to charge into battle.

     

    Interestingly, they also covered “Stargazer” by Rainbow on the limited edition of 2011’s The Lay of Thrym (so listeners got a double dose of Viking-tinged prog metal Dio fury).

     

    Green Carnation, “Solitude”

    “Solitude” is among the greatest Black Sabbath ballads, so it deserves two spots on this list (especially since it gave way not only to Opeth’s traditional take but also to this bolder and richer interpretation).

     

    Lifted from the Norwegian sextet’s sixth and latest LP – 2020’s Leaves of Yesteryear – its lusher and slower trajectory is apparent right away.

     

    Forlorn acoustic guitar arpeggios, soothing keyboard backdrops and distressing piano notes (among other rustic/tribal tones) instantly give it a hauntingly symphonic coating. Meanwhile, Kjetil Nordhus’ tender lead vocals and evocative harmonies add to its chilling classiness.

     

    The heart of Black Sabbath’s blueprint remains, of course, but it wouldn’t be wrong for fans of folk/goth/doom metal mainstays such as Katatonia and Borknagar to prefer Green Carnation’s execution.

     

    Favorite Black Sabbath Album of 21 Rock + Metal Legends

    Members of Metallica, Iron Maiden, and even Sabbath themselves reveal their favorite titles from the band’s catalog.

    James Hetfield, Metallica

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Master of Reality

    What he said about it:

    “(Tony Iommi) can go from the heaviest doom riff into a happy mode and it would still sound heavy. We can’t do happy, but Tony can pull it off. My favorite track is ‘Into the Void.’”

    —James Hetfield (Classic Rock)

    ozzy osbourne performs with black sabbath in 2016

    ozzy osbourne performs with black sabbath in 2016

    Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “Our last truly great album, I think… And with the music, we’d managed to strike just the right balance between our old heaviness and our new, ‘experimental’ side.”

    —Ozzy Osbourne (I Am Ozzy)

    smashing pumpkins, sighommi

    smashing pumpkins, sighommi

    Theo Wargo, Getty Images

     

    Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “Creepy, spooky, and heavier than God in brief, fleeting moments. This album always makes me think of the soundtrack Sabbath would make to a final day of Earth.”

    —Billy Corgan (Music Radar)

    billy corgan in 2025

    billy corgan in 2025

    Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “Creepy, spooky, and heavier than God in brief, fleeting moments. This album always makes me think of the soundtrack Sabbath would make to a final day of Earth.”

    —Billy Corgan (Music Radar)

    lzzy hale, halestorm

    lzzy hale, halestorm

    Lzzy Hale, Halestorm

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Heaven and Hell

    What she said about it:

    “This album changed my life tonally for guitar. It definitely put me in the right direction to be a hard rock artist. I’ve been listening to Dio and Black Sabbath since I was a kid… and this was one of the first albums that I owned and listened to. I kind of got introduced to Sabbath during the Ronnie James Dio years and then I had to go back and rediscover Black Sabbath with Ozzy. It was the gateway drug.”

    —Lzzy Hale (AXS TV)

    tom morello, rage against the machine

    tom morello, rage against the machine

    Tom Morello, Rage Against the Machine

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Paranoid

    What he said about it:

    “The world may never recover”

    —Tom Morello on the 50th anniversary of the album’s release.

    Lars Ulrich, Metallica

    Lars Ulrich, Metallica

    Suzanne Cordeiro, AFP via

     

    Lars Ulrich, Metallica

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabotage

    What he said about it:

    “Side A, if you look at vinyl, is probably the strongest 20 minutes of Black Sabbath. And then ‘Symptom of the Universe,’ – the simplicity in the riff, the down-picking, the chug – it’s obviously the blueprint for the core of what hard rock and metal ended up sounding like … up through the ’80s and ’90s.”

    —Lars Ulrich (Rolling Stone)

    Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath

    Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath

    Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath

    Favorite Black Sabbath albums:

    Black Sabbath, Paranoid and Dehumanizer

    What he said about them:

    “It has a raunchy sound, something I think has been missing from Sabbath over the last few years. This is very much a classic Black Sabbath record. In fact, I didn’t expect it to come out quite this good.” – Tony Iommi on Dehumanizer (Far Out)

    iron maiden singer bruce dickinson performing solo with arm outstretched and beanie on head

    iron maiden singer bruce dickinson performing solo with arm outstretched and beanie on head

    Mariano Regidor, Redferns

     

    Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “I was a kid and got this album and I was still a virgin, which made me open it up and go, ‘Oh, my God. Look at those women.’ But what a great record. What a great album.”

    —Bruce Dickinson (Qobuz)

    Judas Priests Rob Halford performs at The Joint in Las Vegas, 2019

    Judas Priests Rob Halford performs at The Joint in Las Vegas, 2019

    Rob Halford, Judas Priest

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Black Sabbath

    What he said about it: “This album, recorded in a day, is magic for me. It captures the roots of what they are in the truest sense. You feel like you are in the studio with the lads.”

    —Rob Halford (Radio.com)

    Kirk Hammett, Metallica

    Kirk Hammett, Metallica

    Kirk Hammett, Metallica

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabotage

    What he said about it:

    “They created the genre in those first three albums, and then there was Vol. 4, which was just like another shift in their sound. And then Sabotage came out, which is another shift in their sound. They got a little bit more progressive, the playing got a little bit more advanced. The arrangements got a little bit more sophisticated.”

    “And they wrote the riff that I think encapsulates the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and thrash metal as as we know it, and that riff is ‘Symptom of the Universe.’ That song literally breathes new life into heavy metal … That riff in itself shifted heavy metal and I have to give that album and that particular song a lot of credence.”

    —Kirk Hammett (Consequence)

    Geezer Butler, Black Sabbath

    Geezer Butler, Black Sabbath

    Geezer Butler, Black Sabbath

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “It was a great time to be in Sabbath cause we’d established ourselves. We had a few quid in the bank and things were just great. It was really good. Everybody was enjoying being together.”

    —Geezer Butler (Loudwire)

    Zakk Wylde

    Zakk Wylde

    Zakk Wylde

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabotage

    What he said about it:

    “To me, Sabotage is insane good. Ozzy’s vocal performance on that… I love his vocal performance on all of them, but I mean Sabotage, specifically, is just — I’ll put that up against anybody.”

    —Zakk Wylde (SiriusXM)

    dave grohl

    dave grohl

    Maya Dehlin Spach, Getty Images

     

    Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Mob Rules

    What he said about it:

    “In fact, Mob Rules got Dave Grohl and people of that generation into Sabbath. And then, of course, they go back and listen to the other stuff. I know that Dave Grohl was saying Mob Rules was one of his favorite albums.”

    Dimebag Darrell, Pantera

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Master of Reality

    What he said about it:

    “I’ve recorded so many compilation cassettes of Black Sabbath records that I feel like I only know one long, long album of theirs. Still, this one’s in my jukebox. It’s killer! We’ll still be talking about it in 40 years.”

    —Dimebag Darrell (Rock Hard)

    Bill Ward, Black Sabbath

    Bill Ward, Black Sabbath

    Bill Ward, Black Sabbath

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Master of Reality

    What he said about it:

    “I liked it because the band was, by that time, very much a completely on-the-road, touring band. We hadn’t come off the road for several years and there’s a maturity about it. There’s something about Master; there’s something different about it. It’s always been one of my favorites.”

    —Bill Ward (Rolling Stone)

    slash

    slash

    Slash, Guns N Roses

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Black Sabbath

    What he said about it: “In my opinion, there is no more ominous rock n’ roll record than this one. I don’t care what band you come up with – Black Sabbath’s first album tops them all. On every level, it’s the sound of pure evil.”

    Collin McDaniel / Circuit of the Americas

     

    Kerry King, Slayer

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Sabotage

    What he said about it:

    “Something about the vibe on that record. It’s cool. I mean, they’re all cool, but something about that one. Maybe ‘Symptom of the Universe.’ I don’t know. It’s nonstop badassery.”

    Scott Ian, Anthrax

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Master of Reality

    What he said about it:

    “It’s only 34 minutes but you have ‘Sweet Leaf,’ ‘After Forever,’ ‘Children of the Grave,’ ‘Lord of this World’ and ‘Into the Void’ on it … An album with one of those songs on it would blow people’s minds. But all [five] of those songs are on one album.”

    —Scott Ian (Guitar World)

    Glenn Danzig, Misfits

    Glenn Danzig, Misfits

    Glenn Danzig, Misfits

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Black Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “I played it when I got home (from the record store) and I was like, this is incredible. So then I took it around my neighborhood and started playing it for all of my friends, saying, ‘You got to hear this record, you’ve got to hear this band.’ Nobody knew who the fuck Black Sabbath was.”

    —Glenn Danzig (Revolver)

    Henry Rollins

    Henry Rollins

    Henry Rollins

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Master of Reality

    What he said about it:

    “This album not only has Tony Iommi capturing one of the greatest tones ever committed to tape, but Ward and Butler swinging as hard as they’re crushing it. This is a perfectly balanced bit of playing.”

    —Henry Rollins (Goldmine)

    Rick Rubin

    Rick Rubin

    Rick Rubin

    Favorite Black Sabbath album:

    Black Sabbath

    What he said about it:

    “This album is really the beginning of riff rock, which I really like. It sounds huge and scary, and slow and sludgy, and has a kind of otherworldly aspect to it that moves me.”

    —Rick Rubin (Gibson)

    23 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Black Sabbath

    Thanks to a career spanning nearly five decades, an estimated 70 million albums sold around the world, and more timeless songs than you can shake a crucifix at, Black Sabbath have certainly earned their standing as the godfathers of heavy metal. But even one of rock’s most notorious and newsworthy bands has its fair share of little-known details in their history, so we set out to compile 23 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Black Sabbath:

    Only One Session

    Only One Session

    Alex Pantling, Getty Images

     

    Only One Session

    It only took one session for Black Sabbath to record its self-titled first album in 1969.

    Tony Changed His Mind

    Tony Changed His Mind

    Robert Cianflone,

     

    Tony Changed His Mind

    Black Sabbath nearly broke up before recording a single song, when guitarist Tony Iommi left to join the more established Jethro Tull in 1969, but he luckily changed his mind.

    Story Behind The Name

    Story Behind The Name

     

     

    Story Behind The Name

    Black Sabbath say their name was inspired by a 1963 Boris Karloff film. While some have speculated the name could have come from the debut album by American psych rockers Coven (released months before Sabbath’s debut) that boasted a song named “Black Sabbath,” Black Sabbath the band have remained steadfast that it was inspired by the film.

    Anybody Know Her?

    Anybody Know Her?

    Rhino, Warner Bros./Canva

     

    Anybody Know Her?

    The name or whereabouts of the woman shown on the cover of Sabbath’s debut album or even the image’s photographer were a mystery up until a 2020 interview.

    Warpiggers?

    Warpiggers?

    Black Sabbath via YouTube

     

    Warpiggers?

    War Pigs almost ended up with a different name. Ozzy said in his 2009 autobiography that the song was initially called Warpiggers, “which was a term for a black magic wedding or something.”

    “Then, we changed it to War Pigs, and Geezer came up with the heavy-duty lyrics about death and destruction. No wonder we never got any chicks at our gigs.”

    No Time For Soundcheck With Rod Stewart

    No Time For Soundcheck With Rod Stewart

     

     

    No Time For Soundcheck With Rod Stewart

    Sabbath’s first U.S. show was at Ungano’s in New York City. Their second gig was opening for Rod Stewart and Faces at Fillmore East.

    Apparently, the two bands didn’t necessarily get along despite being on the same bill.

    “We were pissed off with the Faces, actually, because they didn’t give us any time for soundcheck,” Ozzy wrote in his 2009 autobiography. “And Rod kept well out of our way. Looking back now, I don’t suppose he was too happy having Black Sabbath supporting him.”

    Metal To The Face

    Metal To The Face

    Black Sabbath via YouTube

     

    Metal To The Face

    Sabbath played a show in Memphis during their second U.S. tour. It was on that night Ozzy said in his 2009 autobiography that a fan in a “cloak” jumped on stage.

    Annoyed by the fan’s antics, Ozzy pushed the fan toward Tony. Before he could make it to the guitarist, a roadie slammed a metal bar into the face of the cloaked fan. It was later revealed that the man was carrying a dagger under his cloak.

    “I almost fell backwards into one of the speaker cabinets. I was so freaked out,” Ozzy recalled. “If it hadn’t been for our roadie, Tony might have been a goner.”

    Phoning A Friend

    Phoning A Friend

     

     

    Phoning A Friend

    Seeking to finesse their sound for 1973’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,” the band called in a favor from Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, whose alcohol consumption was as legendary as his musical talents.

     

     

     

    Ozzy was a fan of soul music in his younger days. He lists Sam and Dave among his favorite acts.

    They Did WHAT On The Escalator?!?!

    They Did WHAT On The Escalator?!?!

     

     

     

    Black Sabbath hired respected art designers Hipgnosis to craft a sophisticated cover for 1976’s “Technical Ecstasy,” but Ozzy later dismissed it as “two robots screwing on an escalator.”

     

    Ozzy Osbourne officially parted ways with Sabbath in 1979, but the singer had actually already quit the group in late ’77, forcing them to recruit former Savoy Brown singer Dave Walker for a single TV performance.

     

     

     

    Who recommended Ronnie James Dio as Ozzy’s replacement? Band manager Don Arden’s daughter Sharon Arden … later known as Sharon Osbourne.

     

    When Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan joined Sabbath in 1983, their plan was to start a new band. Gillian would stick around to sing on “Born Again;” in addition, 1986’s “Seventh Star” (with Glenn Hughes on vocals) was supposed to be an Iommi solo LP; but both were released under the Black Sabbath name at the behest of record label suits.

    Never Interrupt A Sabbath Show

    Never Interrupt A Sabbath Show

     

     

    Never Interrupt A Sabbath Show

    The song “Fairies Wear Boots” was inspired by an encounter with combat boot-wearing skinheads who disrupted one of Sabbath’s early concerts.

    Original Four Comeback Album

    Original Four Comeback Album

    Getty Images

     

    Original Four Comeback Album

    The four original members of Black Sabbath almost recorded a comeback album with producer Rick Rubin in 2001, but Ozzy’s solo commitments and hit MTV show, “The Osbournes,” derailed their plans.

    Miss Me Deadly

    Miss Me Deadly

     

     

    Miss Me Deadly

    Tony Iommi was briefly engaged to wed metal goddess Lita Ford. But after the album he produced for her was shelved indefinitely, Lita broke off the engagement and was soon singing a duet with Ozzy on the “Close My Eyes Forever” single.

    It Doesnt Make Sense

    It Doesnt Make Sense

    Warner Bros./Canva

     

    It Doesn’t Make Sense

    The “Paranoid” album’s artwork has also perplexed fans

  • Ten Longhorns make Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s preseason All-Texas college teams

    Ten Longhorns make Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s preseason All-Texas college teams

     

     

    Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, known as the bible of Texas football, has released its preseason All-Texas college team and ten Longhorns made the cut.

     

    The Longhorns had seven players make the first team and three players earn a selection to the second team. Arch Manning was named as the best quarterback, Colin Simmons was named the best defensive lineman, Anthony Hill was named the best linebacker, and Michael Taaffe was named the best defensive back.

     

    Manning, DeAndre Moore, and DJ Campbell were named to the first-team offense. CJ Baxter, Trevor Goosby, and Mason Shipley were named to the second-team offense.

     

     

    By clicking “Subscribe to Newsletter”, I agree to On3’s Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

     

    On defense, Simmons, Hill, Taaffe, and Malik Muhammad were named to the first team. No Longhorns were added to the second team defense.

     

    Texas’ 10 selections were first among the FBS programs in the Lone Star State, with Texas A&M’s nine right behind. Texas Tech had eight selections, Baylor had seven, SMU earned six, and TCU posted five. Houston, North Texas, UTSA, Rice, UTEP, and Texas State all had 1-2 selections apiece.

  • Jameson Williams contract projection: Lions can lock in early to get a potential discount

    Jameson Williams contract projection: Lions can lock in early to get a potential discount

     

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

    One of the more polarizing draft picks in recent years for the Detroit Lions was taking wide receiver Jameson Williams in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

     

    After selecting Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 2 pick that year, the Lions made a massive move up, trading pick Nos. 32, 34, and 66 for pick Nos. 12 and 46, ultimately selecting Williams at No. 12.

     

    It was a gamble for Detroit, not only because of the fact that they moved up 20 spots, but also due to Williams recovering from a torn ACL that he sustained in his final year of college.

     

    The recovery kept Williams out for much of his rookie season, as the wideout played in just six games. Then, in 2022, Williams was suspended for the first six games (eventually reduced to four) for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. He played in 12 games that year, catching 24 passes for 354 yards and two touchdowns.

     

    2024 was Williams’ true breakout campaign, as the former first-rounder caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns, turning into an explosive play machine. He went for over 100 yards three times, while reaching the 75-yard mark another eight times, becoming the No. 2 option behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.

     

    The Lions were clearly pleased with Williams’s breakout season, as they picked up his fifth-year option for 2026, guaranteeing the wideout a $15.493 million salary. Of course, with picking up the option comes extension talks, as Detroit has done a good job of keeping their homegrown stars over the past few years.

     

    This offseason, the Lions have already extended safety Kerby Joseph and linebacker Derrick Barnes. Last year, it was Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker, DJ Reader, Graham Glasgow, and David Montgomery.

     

    Now, it could be Williams’s turn, as the Lions may look to secure a long-term extension for the speedy wideout ahead of the season. Wide receiver prices are only going up, and Williams could secure himself a massive contract with another 1,000-yard season.

     

    So, what could an extension look like?

     

    Baseline numbers for a Jameson Williams contract extension

    There have been a couple of massive extensions at the wide receiver position this offseason, but those aren’t the only deals to keep an eye on.

     

    Quality wideouts such as Khalil Shakir, Rashod Bateman, and Darius Slayton each earned multi-year extensions worth at least $12 million annually.

     

    Shakir earned the biggest deal, landing a four-year, $53 million deal from the Buffalo Bills. Bateman recently got a three-year, $36.75 million extension, while Slayton got a three-year, $36 million deal much earlier in the offseason.

     

    Honestly, those three contracts seem like the floor for Williams after his 2024 campaign. He’s more than a year younger than both Shakir and Bateman and four years younger than Slayton. Additionally, neither of those three receivers has yet to put up a 1,000-yard season like Williams has.

     

    A better comparison might be Jerry Jeudy, who earned a three-year, $52.5 million deal with $41 million guaranteed after being traded to the Cleveland Browns last offseason. Jeudy was a year older, entering his age-25 season, but had more consistency with three seasons over 750 yards in his first four years.

     

    Still, it feels like Williams should do even better than that, given the rising market for wide receivers and his breakout 2024 campaign.

     

    Projecting a new Jameson Williams deal

    The Lions have inked several of their top young talents to extensions in recent years, and a new contract for Williams could be the next one in line.

     

    Several of those extensions have been for four years, including ones for Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Alim McNeill, Kerby Joseph, and even Jared Goff. But, given that Williams is coming off one strong season and still has two years of team control left on his rookie contract with the fifth-year option, it feels a three-year deal may be more reasonable.

     

    That provides the Lions with a little more security, while allowing Williams to cash in and also bet on himself, potentially hitting free agency after his age-28 season.

     

    When looking at the average annual value, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lions’ wideout push the $20 million-per-year range. Yes, that would be a bit of a chance considering his resume. But, Williams does have two years and $18.13 million remaining on his rookie deal.

     

    When projecting a three-year deal worth around $20 million, Williams would have a total compensation of five years and $78 million, which is just over $15 million a year and on par with some of the comparisons we listed above.

     

    I see Williams coming in slightly above that $20 million range, with the guarantees evening out to give Detroit some flexibility.

     

     

  • SEC quarterback rankings: Arch Manning headlines loaded list

    SEC quarterback rankings: Arch Manning headlines loaded list

     

    How good is this crop of SEC quarterbacks? Consider, the quarterback ranked last on this list owns a victory as a starter against Nick Saban’s Alabama.

     

    And the No. 1 quarterback on my list? Well, he requires no introduction.

     

    The SEC became the nation’s best conference because of its superiority at the line of scrimmage, punishing running backs and speed on the perimeter. Somewhere along the way, though, this conference began attracting the best quarterback talent, too.

     

    That’s especially reflected this season.

     

    Consider this list as a collection of tiers. The top five quarterbacks compromise the top tier, and each would rank highly on a national list of quarterbacks. The middle tier offers stability and parity, and the quarterbacks ranked Nos. 6 through 9 could be scrambled into a different order.

     

    Five projected starters transferred to their new schools this past offseason. Some schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Tennessee, have not named a starter. The quarterbacks listed reflect our best estimation of the team’s starter.

     

    Here’s how I rank this impressive batch of SEC quarterbacks:

     

    1. Arch Manning (Texas)

    Manning is far from the most proven quarterback on this list, even if he’s got the most famous surname.

    This ranking is based on Manning’s potential for a lofty ceiling after he looked the part of budding star in two spot starts and backup opportunities last season. He should be ready to break out in Year 3 playing for Steve Sarkisian, one of the nation’s top quarterback developers. Manning’s arm is sharp, and his mobility and size are an X-factor, although he must improve his internal clock of knowing when to scramble when under duress.

     

    Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against Texas-San Antonio at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

    2. Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)

    If you want to know what scouts mean when they say a quarterback has a “live arm,” watch Nussmeier sling a pass toward the sideline.

    He’s got zip. He needs to reduce his throws into impossible windows and stop telegraphing to the defense where he’s going with the ball. His 12 interceptions tied for the most in the SEC, but his 29 touchdown passes ranked just two off the conference lead. He’s an established veteran with a big arm, and he’s the SEC’s returning leader in passing yards. Plus, he’s surrounded by a talented receivers.

     

    3. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)

    Sellers steadily improved throughout his redshirt freshman season, to the point that he threw for 353 yards and five touchdowns in a November triumph over Missouri. He’s an excellent runner, too. Ask Clemson about that.

    His quarterback efficiency rating in conference games leads all SEC returning quarterbacks. He’s accurate, but he needs to improve his processing time. Ball security is his other area for improvement after he fumbled 11 times. If he speeds up his decision-making, he should see those fumble numbers reduce.

     

    4. DJ Lagway (Florida)

    Lagway is a big play waiting to happen. He throws a good deep ball and averaged 10 yards per pass attempt as a true freshman. He should make more plays with his legs, too, after a hamstring injury slowed him last season. Injuries are a concern.

    A throwing shoulder injury limited his spring practice participation. By May, though, he was throwing three times per week. Along with his health, he needs to improve his midrange accuracy and reduce interceptions. He threw nine picks in 192 pass attempts last year, but he oozes upside.

     

    5. John Mateer (Oklahoma)

    Mateer produced awesome stat lines last season at Washington State. He passed for more than 3,100 yards and rushed for more than 800. He’s efficient, as well as tough, strong and incredibly athletic.

    He can throw on the move and from multiple arm angles. He’s got plenty of tools in his belt. Why not rank him higher? He’s unproven against SEC competition. Two of his worst passing performances last year came in his two games against Power Four competition.

     

    6. Austin Simmons (Mississippi)

    Rebels coach Lane Kiffin describes Simmons as a “really talented thrower” with “a high ceiling.” You’d likely hear no argument from Kirby Smart. Simmons looked the part in a relief appearance against Georgia that resulted in a touchdown drive.

    He threw just 32 passes as a backup last season but looked good doing so. He played college baseball before opting to focus exclusively on football. On the mound, he fired fastballs that topped 90 mph. Is he ready to be the guy in a system that asks a lot of the quarterback? That’s the question he must answer.

     

    7. Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)

    Vanderbilt’s Tasmanian Devil of a quarterback runs on moxie, and he’s at his best when facing the state of Alabama.

    This cocksure sixth-year senior spurred Vanderbilt’s upsets of Alabama and Auburn, and he previously beat the Tigers while quarterbacking New Mexico State. Pavia values possession, throwing only four interceptions last year. He’s a good runner, but the hits he absorbed took a toll. Pavia passed for fewer than 190 yards in each of his final six games. He lacks top-end arm strength, but he has a nose for playmaking.

     

    8. Marcel Reed (Texas A&M)

    Would the real Reed please stand up? The Aggie ignited in September after giving the offensive keys to Reed but fizzled in November, as Reed threw six interceptions in his final five games. The quick-footed Reed showed an ability to extend plays and knife through defenses. He’ll need to improve his consistency from the pocket and polish his deep ball. Texas A&M returned a lot of production. As Reed goes (or doesn’t go), so will the Aggies.

     

    Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) throws during the first quarter against Arkansas Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium.

    9. Taylen Green (Arkansas)

    Green is a mobile, hard-nosed runner with a strong arm. He can challenge defenses with downfield strikes. He became more accurate as the season progressed and flourished in an October upset of Tennessee, despite the Vols boasting one of the SEC’s top defenses. His next steps are to improve decision-making, navigating through his progressions and sharpening his midrange throws.

     

    10. Gunner Stockton (Georgia)

    The Bulldogs rallied around Stockton after he took the reins midway through the SEC Championship. It’s easy to picture him becoming Georgia’s heartbeat.

    He doesn’t match predecessor Carsen Beck’s arm talent, but he’s more mobile, and there’s a certain “Je ne sais quoi” about him that appeals to his teammates. He flashed accuracy when his line protected him, and he’s skilled in play-action. Whether he’ll stretch defenses downfield remains a question.

     

    11. Ty Simpson (Alabama)

    Simpson hasn’t proven himself yet. A former five-star recruit, he’s entering Year 4 at Alabama and he’s thrown just 50 career passes, with a 58% completion clip. A natural pocket passer, he possesses some mobility, too, and improvisational skills. Coach Kalen DeBoer desires more consistency from Simpson, the quarterback who’s first in line to replace predecessor Jalen Milroe.

     

    12. Blake Shapen (Mississippi State)

    Shapen looked sharp as Mississippi State’s quarterback for four games last September before a shoulder injury shelved him for the rest of the season. He’s back for a sixth season, and the former Baylor quarterback grasps coach Jeff Lebby’s offense. Shapen’s return offers the Bulldogs reason for optimism, considering he completed 68.5% of his passes before the injury.

     

    13. Jackson Arnold (Auburn)

    Arnold struggled as Oklahoma’s starter, losing his job before regaining it and starting in the Sooners’ upset of Alabama. That result must give Auburn hope that the junior shouldn’t be written off after a rough season playing behind a porous Oklahoma offensive line.

    Arnold struggled to connect consistently on throws beyond about 10 yards. Arm strength and mobility are assets. Maybe, this former five-star recruit will regain his confidence at Auburn, where he’ll have a better offensive line and receivers.

     

    14. Beau Pribula (Missouri)

    In Pribula’s most extensive playing time as a Penn State backup, he showed a steady hand in relief of injured Drew Allar in a win against Wisconsin. He’s a quality pickup for Missouri, which needed to replace starter Brady Cook.

    Pribula hasn’t been named for the job, but he seems like he’d be the front-runner in a competition with Sam Horn, Missouri’s seldom-used backup. Pribula is an electrifying runner who pairs athleticism with toughness. His running ability provided Penn State with an effective wrinkle to its system. To become a starter, he must prove himself as a consistent pocket passer.

     

    15. Joey Aguilar (Tennessee)

    Aguilar showed a fearless streak while starting at Appalachian State. A best-case scenario for Tennessee is that he develops into something like what Pavia became for Vanderbilt. Aguilar can extend plays outside the pocket.

     

    Fearless can’t mean reckless, though. He led the nation in interceptions at App State. Aguilar previously transferred to UCLA, but he left for Tennessee on the backside of the Bruins plundering Nico Iamaleava from the Vols. Aguilar’s preseason checklist must include improving pocket poise, ball security and learning a new offense at warp speed.

     

    16. Zach Calzada (Kentucky)

    Calzada started in Texas A&M’s upset of Alabama, way back in 2021, and he now prepares for his seventh season with his fourth program. Calzada never developed enough midrange accuracy at Texas A&M, but he threw a good deep ball, and he’s coming off a monster season with Incarnate Word of the Championship Subdivision. He’s more intriguing than plenty of past Kentucky quarterbacks.

     

    Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at