Legal filings about clout chasing are forum drama for sophists. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
So the thing about Elon Musk is that he’s cliqued up — specifically with the so-called PayPal Mafia. If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s a group of influential men in Silicon Valley who all used to work at PayPal.
Today, I’d like to focus our attention on a member of the PayPal Mafia: David O. Sacks, the former COO of PayPal and current venture capitalist. Sacks’ battle with Twitter over a subpoena the company issued in its lawsuit against Musk is a direct demonstration of the downside of being a made man.
If you’re in a group with Musk, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, Max Levchin, and the literal co-founders of YouTubeand Yelp, you know, you’re in pretty rarified air. In fact, for a long time, it…
The Commanders announced Thursday that they’ve placed running back Brian Robinson Jr. on the reserve/non-injury list. As a result, he will miss at least the first four games of the season.
Just hours after the report about his knee Tuesday, Washington shared pictures and a video of Robinson greeting staff and coach Ron Rivera on crutches when he returned back to the team facility. There’s a chance the 23-year-old will make his NFL debut despite the shooting, but there is no timetable for his return.
Robinson was selected in the third round of April’s NFL draft out of Alabama and was expected to contribute immediately to Washington’s offense. He won’t be eligible to return until Week 5 when the Commanders host the Titans on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.
The fantasy guru reveals his two reasons for jumping from ESPN to NBC.
1. No one is more associated with fantasy sports than Matthew Berry. After being on the beat for 15 years at ESPN, Berry left the company in July and joined NBC in August.
Appearing on the latest episode of the SI Media Podcast, which dropped Thursday morning, Berry went into great detail while explaining why he decided to move on from the World Wide Leader.
Berry, who repeatedly said he had no ill will toward ESPN and that ESPN “did right by him,” cited two reasons for his departure.
“I wanted to be part of NFL coverage,” Berry said on the podcast. “I think that when you have a fantasy conversation, when you have a betting conversation, you’re having an NFL conversation. I don’t think they are separate. They were maybe back in the day.
“If you and I were to have a fantasy conversation right now, we’re talking ball. We have a slightly different lens on it, but it’s the same thing. You’re talking about players, you’re talking about matchups, you’re talking about the game and what you think will happen and what happened and why it happened.
“The NFL is the premiere sports league in the world and I believe fantasy is a massive way that fans engage with the NFL and I wanted to be more closely aligned with NFL coverage. I wanted to be a part of it.”
I pointed out to Berry, who said that he will be part of NBC’s main Football Night in America crew every Sunday night, that ESPN has an NFL package as well.
“I’ve done some NFL coverage over the years,” Berry said. “When I first started there I would do a segment on Sunday NFL Countdown. From the set of the fantasy show on ESPN+, we would do a 45-second hit that would run on Monday Night Countdown that was sponsored.
“Over the years I’ve popped up on NFL Live. I haven’t recently in the last couple years, but I was there 15 years so I’ve popped in and out of NFL coverage at ESPN.
“But in terms of where the company sits today, at least at the time that I was still there, the fantasy department and the fantasy coverage at ESPN and the NFL department and the NFL coverage are two separate entities.
“The people in charge of those entities are different people. There’s not a lot of overlap. Sunday NFL Countdown had their own producers and their own cast, and Fantasy Football Now on ESPN 2 Sunday mornings had our own production staff and a lot less promotion. So the answer is, yes, ESPN has a lot of NFL coverage and they do a really good job with it and they’ve been real successful with how they’ve approached it.
“Whether it was they just didn’t dig me or they just didn’t believe fantasy was a part of … I was never an integrated part of Monday Night Countdown or Sunday NFL Countdown, any of our biggest platforms. Even NFL Live.
“Not only was I never a big part of any of those shows, I never was going to be. And I knew that, and that’s no disrespect to ESPN. It’s not my job to run that company. The people that run the company made that decision and they’ve done very successfully. They’re running a business, and it works for them.
“But for me, it was important, and as it became apparent that there was a chance that I might leave ESPN, me and my agents had conversations, in some cases multiple conversations, with every NFL partner, and that includes ESPN, and we expressed a desire. We felt pretty confident that if we left ESPN that there would be an NFL broadcast partner that would want me to be a big part of their NFL coverage, not sort of off to the side, not like, ‘Oh, here’s a small clip of them from the show.’ That was really important to me.”
Berry explained the other reason why things didn’t work out with ESPN and why he landed at NBC.
“NBC said to me, ‘We know you have these businesses that you’ve started.’ These small businesses like FantasyLife.com, the Fantasy Life newsletter, the Fantasy Life apps, a lot of things under the brand of Fantasy Life.
“ESPN very graciously offered me a new three-year extension and a raise, but part of that offer was that I would have to get rid of all those side businesses that I had built up over the last couple years.
“My previous contract with ESPN, I had carve-outs for all those things.
“My previous deal was a seven-year deal and the sports landscape has changed significantly and something that they were O.K. with seven years ago. You know seven years ago betting was illegal, and so when they approved those seven years ago, they didn’t contemplate that those businesses—and neither did I—they didn’t contemplate that those businesses might get into sports betting and might get into paid content. Seven years ago, that was not a focus of ESPN or Disney where it is now. And so I think they felt like, again I don’t want to speak for ESPN, but I think they felt like from my perception that their opinion of those side businesses changed from seven years ago as to now in terms of competitiveness and what have you.
“[ESPN executive editor] Norby Williamson, who I like very much, and would work for Norby again, love Norby, I had a meeting with him and he’s like, ‘Listen, we love you here, we want you to be here as long as you wanna be here, but as the conversation continued, it was, ‘Here’s a new three-year deal, here’s a raise, but you have to get rid of these side businesses. And we want you to focus only on ESPN.’
“I certainly understand a corporation having that point of view, but for me, I spent a lot of time building these things up. We’ve raised investment money from investors, I have CEOs of these companies, we have full-time employees, all these companies have full-time employees and all of them signed on investing in the company or came to work because they thought I was going to be able to support them.
“It’s a different corporate structure, and the concerns that NBCUniversal has are different from Disney. I’m not saying they’re better or worse. They’re just different. So that was really important to me to be able to continue that, and NBC said not only will we let you continue it, we’ll support it.”
During the podcast, Berry talked about what ultimately led to his choosing NBC over other suitors, how legalized gambling has affected the fantasy sports world and how he navigates social media while dealing with angry fantasy football players.
You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.
However, some mistakes are harder to take than others. Case in point from Wednesday night’s U.S. Open on ESPN.
3. The man behind Edwin Díaz’s entrance music, Timmy Trumpet, performed the song live when the closer came in to shut down the Dodgers in the Mets’ 2–1 win Wednesday.
4. Aggregators went wild earlier this week when the NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund said on a podcast that new Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield told her his team was going to “f— up” the Browns in Week 1. The are two problems. One, Baker denies ever saying it.
Two, Frelund has admitted she shared the information from what was a private conversation. Not good.
5. CBS’s Tony Romo got the ball rolling for the explosion in NFL broadcasters’ salaries. So what happened when Tony Romo recently ran into Joe Buck, who just signed a lucrative deal with ESPN? Buck explains below.
6. CBS Sports Radio host Zach Gelb had Aaron Donald on his show Wednesday. Naturally, Gelb had to ask the Rams defensive star about swinging his helmet at Bengals players during a joint practice last week. However, Donald was on the show to shill some product and wanted to avoid answering any questions about the ugly incident. That led to an embarrassing yet amusing exchange.
7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: One week from today. The NFL returns. Whet your appetite.
Counting down the 10 most intriguing match-ups and the most in-demand tickets for opening weekend.
Demand Rankings is Sports Illustrated’s weekly look at the games and sports events that are driving the most demand for tickets across sports, including college football, NFL, NBA, golf, tennis and more. Here’s this week’s list of the most sought-after seats in college football.
Week 1 of the college football season is finally here. While we got a taste of college football last weekend, a full slate of more than 80 games to look forward to across the country awaits this week, with games from Thursday to Monday of the long Labor Day weekend. Here are the most intriguing match-ups and the most in-demand seats for college football’s opening weekend.
“The Shoe” is the site of arguably the most high-stakes showdown of Week 1, a battle of two top-5 teams in the AP Poll. New Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, who is less than 15 years removed from starring at Ohio State at linebacker. Now, he’ll lead the underdog Fighting Irish into Columbus as the visitor against an Ohio State team with weapons everywhere on offense. We all know QB C.J. Stroud can sling it, and wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s record-setting Rose Bowl performance put the nation on notice for 2022. And fans are flocking to see these two perennial powers in action: Per SI Tickets, the lowest get-in price for the game is $350, the highest in Week 1.
While this game is technically being played on a neutral field, expect a heavily partisan crowd in favor of the defending national champion Bulldogs in their home state. But UGA’s first game since that title-winning performance in January against Alabama will come against a coach who played a huge role in that championship: Dan Lanning, the former Georgia defensive coordinator who takes over for Mario Cristobal in Eugene. Lanning’s Ducks will likely have a familiar face to SEC fans at quarterback: Bo Nix, who spent three tumultuous seasons at Auburn. Can Nix and Lanning pull a shocker in their first game for their new program? Tickets have been listed as high as $2,503 for the chance to see the Bulldogs begin their title defense, per SI Tickets
Fresh off a trip to the College Football Playoff, Cincinnati opens the season with a difficult road test against a top-20 Arkansas team. The Hogs are always tough to beat in Fayetteville, as referenced by last season’s 6–1 home mark that included a field storm-worthy win over Texas in Week 2. Plus, they bring back outstanding quarterback K.J. Jefferson, who accounted for 27 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions in 2021. Cincinnati will have plenty of new faces, but the Bearcats are a remarkable 44–7 in their last four seasons.
The Billy Napier era in Gainesville begins with a huge test hosting No. 7 Utah. The Utes are coming off a program-defining season that featured a Pac-12 championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl, where they traded blows with Ohio State in a 48–45 thriller won by the Buckeyes. With QB Cam Rising and top RB Tavion Thomas back, Utah’s offense should be explosive and pose plenty of challenges for a Gator defense that really struggled in 2021. But the detail-oriented Napier has injected new energy into the UF program and could have the Utes on upset alert early. Plus, ‘The Swamp’ should be rocking to celebrate the start of the new season. This game has the fourth-highest get-in price of Week 1, per SI Tickets.
There’s no better way to kick off Week 1 than a rivalry game! The “Backyard Brawl” hasn’t been played in more than a decade after being a victim of conference realignment, but the two schools separated by just over 70 miles returns Thursday night in what should be quite the showdown. Both teams are reliant on quarterbacks brought in from the transfer portal: Pitt turns to USC import Kedon Slovis to replace star signal-caller Kenny Pickett, while West Virginia looks to former Georgia QB J.T. Daniels for an upgrade at the position after struggling in 2021. Expect a fun atmosphere in Pittsburgh.
Conference play in the Big Ten starts early! We’ve already had one Big Ten game this season with the Week Zero clash between Northwestern and Nebraska in Dublin, but there’s arguably even more intrigue in this Thursday might matchup in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers get quite the home opener after the program’s first nine-win season since 2003, hosting Penn State. The Nittany Lions have won the last nine meetings between these two schools, all by double figures. Can Purdue turn the tide and make an early statement as Big Ten West contenders?
This is LSU’s first return to the Superdome since completing an undefeated season with Joe Burrow at quarterback in 2019-20. The program is in a much different place now than it was the last time the Tigers were in this stadium, with a new coach in Brian Kelly looking to get LSU back to the top of college football after a pair of disappointing seasons. The longtime Notre Dame head coach may not seem like an ideal fit on the bayou, but he’s one of the sport’s most successful coaches. Can he get his tenure off on the right foot against another big-name program in Florida State? The LSU faithful seem ready to take over Bourbon Street, as the lowest get-in price per SI Tickets is currently $198.
There’s no bigger Group of 5 game in Week 1 than this all-Texas battle in San Antonio. Coach Jeff Traylor has brought the UTSA program into the national conversation quickly since taking over in 2020 and was rewarded with a massive contract extension this offseason. Meanwhile, Houston should be in the AAC title conversation after going 12–2 in 2021 and returning plenty of production, including QB Clayton Tune. The Alamodome should have strong fan presences from both schools for this matchup that could have New Year’s Six bowl game implications down the line.
This game is being played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in Atlanta rather than Georgia Tech’s usual on-campus home, and it’s a great first chance to see Clemson after a down year in 2021. That included an ugly 14–8 win over Georgia Tech last September in Death Valley, a microcosm of the Tigers’ offensive woes under QB D.J. Uiagalelei. We’ll see if the Yellow Jackets can challenge the Tigers yet again, or if Clemson will look like a different team after finishing last season on a six-game winning streak.
Folsom Field is one of the cooler venues to take in a college football game on any given week, and this battle between Power 5 teams headlines the Friday night slate in Week 1. Colorado struggled in its second season under Karl Dorrell and gets quite the early test from a TCU team that should be dynamic on offense with Sonny Dykes taking over for Gary Patterson. Dykes led SMU to a 7–0 start last season before the Mustangs faded down the stretch.
The Alpine driver owned that the comments were made in the “heat of the moment” but felt it was blown out of proportion.
Fernando Alonso apologized to Lewis Hamilton for the “heat of the moment” remarks he made over the radio during last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
The two former world champions collided on the first lap, which sent Hamilton’s car in the air and forced the Mercedes driver to exit the race early. Alonso could be heard over the team radio, which was broadcasted, saying, “What an idiot! Closing the door from the outside. We had a great start, but this guy only knows how to drive and start in first.”
Hamilton later took the blame for the incident.
Alonso said ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend that his Spa remarks were an instant reaction to his race engineer. However, he did add that he felt it was blown out of proportion.
“It made a huge thing,” Alonso. “First of all, it’s Lewis, he’s a champion, he’s a legend of our time. And then when you say something, and I’m sorry to repeat this, against a British driver, there is a huge media involvement after that.
“They’ve been saying a lot of things to Checo [Perez], to Carlos [Sainz], to me. If you say something to a Latin driver, everything is a little bit more fun. When you say something to others, it’s a little bit more serious, but anyway, yes I apologize.”
The Alpine driver later added that he does not stand by his comment of “this guy only knows how to drive and start in first.”
“No, no, no, I don’t believe [that]. I mean, it’s not that I believe or don’t believe, there are facts that it is not that way. So it’s something that you say in the heat of the moment. But as I said, nothing that I said is true, or there are facts that are completely the opposite. So I have huge respect.”
Alonso does plan to apologize to Hamilton in person, and the two did meet up soon after the press conferences.
“The heat of the moment and the adrenaline of the moment, fighting for finally top two, top three, made me say those comments that I should not say,” he said about the radio moment. “But at the same time, as I said also after the race, I said that it was a race incident in my opinion.
“When you say something on the radio, in that moment, you think that you are talking with your engineer, so you are preparing the strategy…Obviously, you should be aware that is broadcast. But it’s like if someone makes a hard tackle or something in football. In that moment you say something to your teammate or whatever, and in that moment, it’s not broadcasted..”
The Razer Kishi V2 for iPhone is available to purchase today for $99.99, following the release of the Android-only Kishi V2 in July. This is the brand’s second generation of Nintendo Switch-like controllers for iOS devices that make mobile gaming feel more like a real console experience.
If you were thinking of upgrading from the original Razer Kishi or iOS controller, then there are a few benefits. Two new multi-function shoulder buttons can be remapped in the Nexus app (Razer’s own gaming hub) if you enjoy playing more complex games, and there’s a dedicated button that will take you to the Nexus app directly, though its capabilities of handling iOS integration remain to be seen given that Apple doesn’t allow for native app streaming.
In some ways, though, it also presents a couple of key questions for Barrett, coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks’ front office as a whole—all of whom would carry greater expectations heading into the 2022–23 campaign. And with that in mind, we dug into the two biggest curiosities we’d have if New York deals for Mitchell in the next month and a half.
What would Barrett’s role be?
As disappointing as last season was for the Knicks, who went from being a surprise No. 4 seed in 2021 to failing to even make the play-in round in ’22, Barrett provided stretches that offered reason to believe he’s capable of carrying greater weight on his shoulders.
Specifically, he had a 14-game run following the All-Star break in which he averaged 26.5 points, 6.4 boards and 3.9 assists—something he accomplished before even turning 22. He also did it largely through getting to the line more often (closer to nine times per night), a welcome sign as his efficiency from the field still has room for improvement.
During that portion of the season and in spates throughout the campaign, Barrett illustrated a greater comfort in getting to his right hand and finishing on the right side of the basket, and took greater advantage of defenses that failed to get back in transition. He again was left with a less-than-perfect scenario at the point-guard position after the Kemba Walker experiment flamed out early in the year, instead putting Alec Burks in that setup role.
With that in mind, there’s no question that Barrett can benefit from playing alongside a couple of guards who are scoring threats, but who also are used to finding teammates in kick-out situations. Where there is a question, though, is within the role. If Mitchell joins the Knicks—and does so with Barrett and Julius Randle staying put—where does Barrett land in the team’s pecking order offensively? Second? Third? Fourth, even?
Mitchell, one of the league’s most prodigious scorers, had a 32.2% usage rate, one of the NBA’s highest last season. So it’s fair to assume he’d be the top dog, eating up the greatest share of possessions. And while Jalen Brunson’s usage wasn’t nearly as high last year, it’s worth keeping in mind that he shared the court with Luka Dončić, whose 36.8% usage mark was the league’s highest among wings. When Brunson played without Luka, the point guard was at 26.6%—along the lines of what Randle (27.9) and Barrett (26.8) enjoyed last year.
Regardless of how the rates break down, it seems highly likely that Barrett will have the ball in his hands less often when playing with the starting five—a fascinating dynamic given the extension that’s being finalized between him and the Knicks. On some level, it could be seen as a positive that better table-setters would be in tow. Yet Barrett isn’t a knockdown shooter, and without a three-point specialist projected to be among the starters to help the team’s spacing, it’s not as if having the youngster standing along the three-point line would yield him better efficiency on its own. He still needs more opportunities as a playmaker. (Maybe some of that could come by playing a decent portion of his minutes with the team’s second unit?)
Barrett has salary escalators in his deal that are triggered by making the All-Star team and earning other leaguewide honors. That’s part of what makes a possible Mitchell acquisition (on top of the Brunson signing) so interesting: it’s almost certain that Barrett’s attempts, and perhaps Barrett’s scoring even, would see a decrease in light of who all would be joining the team. The Knicks’ hope would be that his looks improve because of the increase in offensive talent around him.
It’s a gamble of sorts: In opting to go this route—holding on to Barrett, and instead looking to deal a boatload of first-round picks for Mitchell—they’re banking on their youngster becoming a star and perhaps relinquishing most of their draft-pick war chest to be able to acquire another one beyond Mitchell in the future. But if you want Barrett to flourish into an unquestioned star, he’ll presumably need more chances to handle the ball himself.
R.J. Barrett is finalizing a nine-figure contract extension with the Knicks.
Wendell Cruz/USA TODAY Sports
What happens to the defense if Mitchell is brought in?
There is at least one thing we can assume about Barrett’s role if Mitchell is brought in: He’ll almost certainly have to be at his best as a help defender given who he’ll be playing behind.
One of the clearest flaws of a club featuring Mitchell and Brunson would be the nightly size disadvantage the Knicks would find themselves with. Both Brunson and Mitchell—each of whom are known more for their offense—stand just 6’1″. From a statistical standpoint, Dallas was 5.1 points worse per 100 possessions defensively this past year when Brunson was on the floor. The Jazz were 6.5 points worse per 100 with Mitchell on the court.
While the tandem would be undersized, it isn’t fair to Brunson to put him in Mitchell’s category—right near the bottom of the league in a handful of metrics—defensively. Brunson at least gives consistent effort on that end. He does his part to fight around screens, and led the Mavericks in two of the last three seasons in taking charges, including 17 last season, which was good for ninth in the league. And when Dallas pulled off the playoff upset over top-seeded Phoenix, much of it was because the Suns guards struggled to score as the series wore on. Yes, Dončić got much of the credit there for showing much greater effort and attention to detail. But Brunson was a factor as well in making life far more difficult for Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
A big, athletic rim protector like Mitchell Robinson could help clean up some of the messes that are made at the top of the key. But as we saw with Gobert and the Jazz, if opposing guards get free lanes to the rim, it’s going to open up an abundance of shots—including ones worth more points—elsewhere all over the court.
It’s part of the reason why the Knicks are so intent on keeping 6’5″ Quentin Grimes, their best defending guard, if they can. And it also explains where Barrett can be extraordinarily valuable this season, even if he is a third or fourth option at times within the offense. Because New York will desperately need his defense if and when Mitchell actually becomes a Knick.
Sports Illustrated’s John Garcia Jr. selects one question posed to him through social media (@JohnGarcia_Jr and @SIAllAmerican)each week to delve into the college football recruiting topics fans want to know most about.
As we move from the offseason to in-season college football recruiting coverage, there has been a bit of a lull in the verbal commitment department.
It’s understandable, of course, because football at every level has either started or is set to start in the next week or so, meaning coaching staffs are focused on the field over the future—at least for now.
Fans of college football’s programs without key recruits at certain positions, mainly quarterback, continue to scan social media and available clips to see if there are any hidden gems somehow still on the board despite so much talent at the sport’s most important position in the class of 2023.
While some passers could potentially play their way into more scholarship consideration over the coming months, there is still an array of arms that could fit the bill at the Power Five or FBS level given unique skill sets and the potential offensive systems they would play in.
Programs like Georgia, Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Florida State, South Carolina, TCU, Purdue and others are still quarterback-less in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Intel suggests Georgia and a few others will concede and not take a prep passer barring a change of plans, though most on the list would still consider adding one before pen meets paper on National Signing Day.
Naturally, there are some uncommitted senior quarterbacks creating some buzz as their final season before college football gets going.
Sports Illustrated looks at a handful worth keeping an eye on among those without Power Five offers to their name as of Sept. 1.
Ryan Browne – New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy
If his name sounds familiar, it’s because the 6’5” Browne was one of the top quarterbacks in Florida last fall, helping lead Venice (Fla.) High School to a state championship as a senior in scoring 39 total touchdowns (31 passing). He did so with a big arm and enough mobility to keep defenses honest, something he showed again last week in his debut at post-graduate program Milford Academy in throwing for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Browne was invited to throw at college camps all over the country this summer, pushing his name up various boards ahead of what should be a busy fall slate on the visit front. Wisconsin will get him on campus this weekend, while Florida State and Purdue have stayed in contact and could earn gameday visits down the line.
“They kept contact with me all summer,” Browne told SI after throwing for the staff in June. “I’ve been talking on the phone with Coach (Bobby) Engram regularly.”
AJ Samuel – New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
A longtime starter, and winner, at one of New Orleans’ most storied high school programs, Samuel offers dual-threat ability and short-to-intermediate accuracy at the next level. The production is there, too, scoring some 60 touchdowns over the last two varsity campaigns, against great talent along the way. Samuel has added good mass this offseason, something we saw at a camp this spring, where he took command of those around him. He projects as a productive, mature leader who will win games in college wherever he ends up, though Hawaii is his best offer to date.
Battle of the South, Dynasty U New Orleans (; 0:44)
Earl Woods – Hueytown (Ala.) High School
If the unconventional is the desire of a coaching staff, particularly one with quarterback runs within the play design, Woods may be among the best fits nationally even when the committed quarterbacks are lumped in. The Birmingham-area star was a statistical machine in 2021, leading HHS to the Class 6A state championship game in Alabama thanks to more than 3,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing. Woods’s 67 touchdowns helped to earn him Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year honors as a junior. As twitchy a runner at the position as there is in the country, the 5’10” star has offers from Navy, Alabama State, Grambling, Jacksonville State, Austin Peay, North Alabama and others beyond the FBS.
Cole LaCrue – Broomfield (Colo.) High School
Among the quarterbacks still available, the 6’2″ LaCrue may have the most fun tape to break down given the athleticism and gunslinger-like traits he shows on Friday nights. As a junior, it resulted in 30 total touchdowns with creativity and pizazz often included. Also a baseball player, the arm talent and mobility make for a modern quarterback talent with a lot to gain as a senior this fall. Central Michigan has offered and hosted LaCrue for an official visit in the summer and now others are picking up the phone with him in mind. Wisconsin, Cal, Nebraska and others have increased communication, and a trip to Madison is lined up for the second week of the college football season.
“I love pressure so just gonna go show them why I’m the guy,” LaCrue told SI this week of his sleeper status.
Ike Owens – Tulsa (Okla.) Jenks
One of the top programs in the state of Oklahoma has a new passer at the helm heading into 2022 and he showed big-time flashes in spot duty in 2021, throwing for nearly 900 yards and seven touchdowns last fall. Owens is an efficient player at 6’2″, 190 pounds, completing 10 of 13 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns to kick off his senior season just last week. He also shows touch in pushing the ball to the second and third level, with strong anticipation signs flashing along the way. FCS programs are courting Owens at this time but as he gains experience, the FBS could soon come calling.
Have a recruiting question? Connect with @SIAllAmerican and/or @JohnGarcia_Jr to submit yours and it could be featured on the next mailbag.
