Dell Sports – College Football News

Report: Troy coach Jon Sumrall lands 4-year extension

Report: Troy coach Jon Sumrall lands 4-year extension

Troy football coach Jon Sumrall has agreed to a new four-year contract, ESPN reported Friday.

The deal includes a pay raise, an increased pool for staff salaries and "additional program investments for players," according to the report.

Sumrall, 40, guided the Trojans to a 12-2 record (7-1 Sun Belt) and a Cure Bowl victory against UTSA in his first year with the program in 2022.

Troy broke the previous school record for wins (11-2) set in 2017 and won its first bowl game since 2018.

Sumrall was an assistant coach at his alma mater Kentucky (2019-21), Ole Miss (2018), Troy (2015-17), Tulane (2012-14) and San Diego (2007-11) before taking over the program in Troy, Ala.

The Trojans open the 2023 season at home Sept. 2 against Stephen F. Austin.

Kentucky dismisses DB Vito Tisdale

Kentucky dismisses DB Vito Tisdale

Kentucky dismissed defensive back Vito Tisdale on Tuesday for violating team rules.

"We have no additional comment on the matter," Kentucky said in a tweet.

Tisdale missed the entire 2022 season recovering from a torn ACL he sustained during spring practice a year ago.

Tisdale had 21 tackles and a sack in nine games (two starts) for Kentucky in the 2021 season. He appeared in 19 games overall.

"Thank you for allowing me to pursue my academic and my athletic career at this prestigious university," Tisdale posted, in part, on Twitter.

Report: Ohio coach Tim Albin gets extension through 2026

Report: Ohio coach Tim Albin gets extension through 2026

Ohio gave head coach Tim Albin a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season on Tuesday, ESPN reported.

Albin also earned a raise to $700,000 per year, up from $535,000.

Albin, 57, was the offensive coordinator at Ohio from 2005-2020 under longtime head coach Frank Solich. He was named head coach when Solich retired in July 2021.

After a 3-9 campaign in 2021, the Bobcats improved to 10-4 in 2022 by winning their last seven regular-season games. They lost to Toledo in the MAC championship game but beat Wyoming 30-27 in the Arizona Bowl to get to 10 wins for just the third time in program history and the first time since 2011.

Police: Suspended Alabama DB was driving 141 mph

Police: Suspended Alabama DB was driving 141 mph

Alabama suspended defensive back Tony Mitchell following a high-speed police chase and an arrest on drug charges.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban announced the suspension Monday "until we gather more information about the situation and what his legal circumstance is."

Mitchell and a passenger were arrested on March 15 by the Holmes County (Florida) Sheriff's Office on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and/or deliver.

According to an arrest report obtained by AL.com, Mitchell was clocked at 141 mph during the police pursuit and authorities recovered about 8 ounces of marijuana and $7,000 in cash from the vehicle.

Authorities also recovered a loaded firearm from the vehicle and charged the passenger, Christopher Lewis, with carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.

Alabama opened spring practice Monday without Mitchell, a true freshman and former four-star cornerback from Alabaster, Ala.

"Everybody's got an opportunity to make choices and decisions," Saban said. "There's no such thing as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You've got to be responsible for who you're with, who you're around and what you do, who you associate yourself with and the situations that you put yourself in.

"It is what it is, but there is cause and effect when you make choices and decisions that put you in bad situations."

The Crimson Tide open the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Nebraska suspends leading rusher Anthony Grant

Nebraska suspends leading rusher Anthony Grant

Nebraska has suspended running back Anthony Grant for the start of spring practice, new head coach Matt Rhule announced Monday.

Rhule said Grant, who led the Cornhuskers with 915 rushing yards in 2022, is dealing with off-the-field issues and needs to improve his academics to get back on the field.

"Working on academics and general things," Rhule said. ... "That will be day by day. Good kid. Just have to get him going in the right direction.

Grant carried the ball 218 times and scored six touchdowns in 12 games last season, adding 18 catches for 104 yards and earning an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection.

It was Grant's first season with the Cornhuskers after he played at Florida State (2018-19) and the New Mexico Military Institute (2020-21).

Rhule also said kick returner and receiver Tommi Hill has been suspended for unspecified reasons, while tight ends Chris Hickman and James Carnie and cornerback Tyreke Johnson have left the team.

The Cornhuskers finished 4-8 overall (3-6 in the Big Ten) last season under former head coach Scott Frost and interim coach Mickey Joseph.

Missouri LB Chad Bailey arrested on DWI suspicion, suspended

Missouri LB Chad Bailey arrested on DWI suspicion, suspended

Missouri linebacker Chad Bailey was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and subsequently was suspended by the school.

Police in Columbia, Mo., booked Bailey at 2:46 a.m. Sunday. The 23-year-old was released on $500 bond, according to online records from the Boone County (Mo.) Sheriff's Department.

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Bailey had been suspended.

"We are aware of the situation involving Chad Bailey," Drinkwitz said. "He's been suspended according to Department of Athletics policy. We have high expectations for all of our student-athletes, on and off the field, and we will follow all departmental and campus policies."

The Post-Dispatch said police records showed Bailey was pulled over for an expired license plate and lane violation. After a field sobriety test, he was arrested.

Bailey, a defensive captain last season, was set to return to Missouri this fall as a sixth-year senior. Last season, he started 11 games and recorded 57 tackles (8.5 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. He has appeared in 43 games with the Tigers since joining them in 2018.

Dartmouth coach 'Buddy' Teevens in hospital following accident

Dartmouth coach 'Buddy' Teevens in hospital following accident

Eugene F. "Buddy" Teevens, the winningest coach in Dartmouth football history, remains hospitalized in Florida following a bicycle accident, the school announced.

The accident involving Teevens, 66, occurred Thursday in the St. Augustine area, where the family has a home.

In a statement Saturday night, Dartmouth said the Teevens family wasn't accepting visitors.

"Out of respect for the family, updates on Teevens' condition will be made available in accordance with their wishes," the statement said.

Teevens played quarterback at Dartmouth in the late 1970s and was Ivy League Player of the Year in 1978. He has coached for more than 30 years -- 23 at Dartmouth.

Teevens' head-coaching jobs have taken him to Maine (1985-86), Dartmouth (1987-1991, 2005-present), Tulane (1992-96) and Stanford (2002-04).

His record at Dartmouth is 117-101-2, including 83-70-1 in Ivy League play.

His overall record is 151-178-2. He has been named Ivy League Coach of the Year twice -- in 2019 and '21.

Florida State, Ga. Tech to open '24 season in Ireland

Florida State, Ga. Tech to open '24 season in Ireland

Florida State and Georgia Tech will kick off the 2024 season in Ireland, both schools announced Wednesday.

The Aer Lingus College Football Classic will be held at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Aug. 24, 2024.

It will be the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams and a home game for the Yellow Jackets.

"I am so excited for our student-athletes, coaches, staff, administration and fans for this opportunity," Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said. "When this idea was first presented to me, I was immediately intrigued by a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the people in our program."

It will be the first time Florida State has played outside of the United States. Georgia Tech beat Boston College 17-14 at the same venue in 2016.

Shooting survivor Mike Hollins back at Virginia practice

Shooting survivor Mike Hollins back at Virginia practice

Virginia running back Mike Hollins returned to practice Tuesday, four months after being wounded in a shooting that killed three of his teammates.

The fifth-year senior was a full participant as the Cavaliers kicked off spring practice in Charlottesville, Va.

"Just to watch how he's attacked everything, could easily have made excuses, easily have overthought things and but he's taking it upon himself to respond and show perseverance and be resilient," Virginia coach Tony Elliott said, per ESPN.

"I think a lot of it is for himself, but the majority of it is for his teammates. There was a time when we didn't know if he'd ever have the chance to play to play football again. I'm just grateful to be on the grass, grateful to have an opportunity to be here at the University of Virginia and lead this program, lead these young men, all the guys that decided to come back and pick up the pieces and turn this tragedy into a triumph."

On Nov. 13, Hollins was one of four players shot on a charter bus after returning to campus from a field trip to Washington, D.C.

Hollins was shot in the back and spent a week in the hospital, including some time on a ventilator.

According to his mother, Hollins had returned to the bus to help others after the shooting started.

Teammates Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D'Sean Perry did not survive. Another student, Marlee Morgan, survived a gunshot wound.

A former Virginia player, Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was charged with three counts of second-degree murder.

Hollins has rushed for 540 yards and seven touchdowns and added 24 catches for 197 yards in 30 career games with the Cavaliers.

"Just so happy for Mike, because we all know that as a football player that your time is going to come to an end," Elliott said. "You definitely wouldn't want it to come to an end in that fashion. So to see him to have another opportunity, just to go out on his own terms, makes it really special."

Fellow running back Perris Jones said seeing Hollins on the field is an inspiration to the rest of the team.

"Just the way he's carried himself throughout this tragedy and how he continues to carry himself, it's surreal," Jones said, per ESPN. "He is a strong man, and his fight every day encourages all of us to continue to fight and to do the best that we absolutely can because if he can do it, we can as well, so it's definitely motivating."

The Cavaliers canceled their last two games and finished 3-7 in their first season under Elliott.

Virginia opens the 2023 season on Sept. 2 against Tennessee in Nashville.

Florida A&M hires Chad Johnson as ambassador

Florida A&M hires Chad Johnson as ambassador

Former NFL All-Pro receiver Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson will serve as an ambassador and consultant for Florida A&M.

The school announced his appointment Wednesday night.

"Anyone familiar with Chad knows that he has always been a great ambassador for FAMU," athletic director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes said in a news release. "It's time to make it official. I am happy that we could reach an agreement to formalize his role with the University."

Johnson, 45, will take part in special projects as identified by Sykes.

Raised in Miami, Johnson didn't attend the school but is a longtime fan of the program. He played in community college and then one season at Oregon State.

"I fell in love with FAMU after attending my first Classic in 1984 with my grandma, and the rest is history," Johnson stated.

Johnson was a second-round draft pick by the Bengals in 2001 and had seven 1,000-yard seasons in Cincinnati before spending his final NFL season with the New England Patriots in 2001.

He finished his career with 766 receptions for 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns. He remains the Bengals' franchise leader in many statistical categories, including career receptions (751), receiving yards (10,783) and receiving touchdowns (66).

More recently, Johnson was an analyst for Fox Sports during the 2022 World Cup.

LSU RB John Emery (academics) out for start of spring practice

LSU RB John Emery (academics) out for start of spring practice

LSU fifth-year running back John Emery missed the first day of spring practice on Thursday and won't return until he meets academic requirements, coach Brian Kelly said.

A Louisiana native, Emery was a five-star prospect and ranked as the nation's No. 2 running back -- No. 13 overall recruit -- in the 2019 class by the 247Sports composite. But he has failed to live up to expectations, largely because of academics.

Emery missed the 2021 season and the first two games of 2022 because of academic ineligibility.

"John is focused strictly right now on his academics," Kelly said. "He's got some marks that he has to hit from an academic standpoint before we talk about football with him. That was the deal with John and talking to his family. If his primary focus was academics and taking care of his degree, then we would have a conversation about football."

Emery has appeared in 30 career games (five starts) and run for 941 yards with 13 touchdowns at LSU. He has caught 33 passes for 262 yards and two scores.

The Tigers enter spring practice undermanned at the position. Josh Williams and Armoni Goodwin are out with injuries, with Goodwin's ailment expected to keep him out until preseason camp. Both players had their 2022 seasons cut short by knee injuries.

Noah Cain and freshman Trey Holly are the only available scholarship players, NOLA.com reported.

Colorado regents to meet to discuss Pac-12 troubles

Colorado regents to meet to discuss Pac-12 troubles

Colorado's board of regents will meet in a special session on Wednesday with questions about the future of the Pac-12 swirling amid its inability to secure a lucrative television rights contract.

The board will meet in executive session with the agenda topic listed as "Legal advice on a specific matter -- athletics update on PAC 12."

ESPN reported that the board is expected to discuss the television negotiations.

The special meeting comes following a recent Yahoo report that said the Big 12 has reached out to Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State to determine their level of interest in jumping to that conference.

Power-conference shuffling has been ongoing since mid-2021, when Texas and Oklahoma announced their intentions to leave the Big 12 in favor of the Southeastern Conference. The Big 12 tapped into new markets by moving to add BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF.

The pending exit of Southern California and UCLA for the Big Ten has left the Pac-12 vulnerable as it hasn't been able to secure a deal without teams in the Los Angeles market.

Colorado left the Big 12 for the Pac-12 in the 2011 academic year. Its football program, now led by coach Deion Sanders, is poised to regain prominence on the national landscape.

State reaches $4M settlement in Iowa discrimination suit

State reaches $4M settlement in Iowa discrimination suit

The state of Iowa has reached agreement on a $4 million settlement with 12 former Black football players who accused Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz of racial discrimination, the Des Moines Register reported Monday.

Further, auditor Rob Sand, one of three on the Iowa Department of Management's State Appeal Board, wants Iowa athletic director Gary Barta ousted before approving taxpayer funds to be doled out in the settlement.

Under the settlement, the school would pay out $2.175 million and the state would pick up the rest.

"Enough is enough. Clear personal accountability is necessary. I will not support taxpayers funding this settlement unless Gary Barta is no longer employed at the university and forfeits any severance or similar pay," Sand said in a statement to the other board members.

Sand cited three other discrimination lawsuits under Barta's watch before this one as reasons to oust Barta.

The 12 former Iowa football players signed the settlement on Feb. 23, according to the Register. They will receive roughly $184,201.05 per player. Thirteen players originally filed the lawsuit in November 2020, claiming a culture of mistreatment against Black players.

An outside law firm, Husch Blackwell, conducted an investigation and concluded that "the program's rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity."

The accusations led to the dismissal of strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle.

The lawsuit originally sought $20 million in damages in addition to the firing of Ferentz, his son, Brian, Iowa's offensive coordinator, and Barta.

Texas begins QB 2-step with Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers competition

Texas begins QB 2-step with Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers competition

The eyes of Texas are on the high-profile quarterback competition set to get underway as the Longhorns kick off spring practice.

2023 recruit Arch Manning arrived to the drumbeat of No. 1 recruiting rankings, the billing of a future No. 1 draft pick and an unparalleled family legacy at the position. Sophomore Quinn Ewers, the No. 1-ranked recruit in the Class of 2021 by the 247Sports composite and listed at No. 2 by ESPN, landed in Austin in 2022 after one season at Ohio State.

"I'm not worried about who's going to be on the cover of what magazine next week," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I'm more focused on is, is each guy focusing on what they need to do to develop to be the best player that they can be? Quinn has an entire year of a head start, but I don't want to hold Arch back. I want to see how far he can take this thing and what it can look like."

Second-year quarterback Maalik Murphy also is in the running for reps in Austin.

Ewers started 10 games and had 15 touchdown passes with six interceptions last season. His offseason transformation included chopping off his mullet and trimming his facial hair, but that's not the part of his new appearance Sarkisian is most excited about.

Sarkisian said Ewers accepted the challenge from coaches to be the vocal leader of the offense in 2023.

"I think what he's done, he's serving for Arch and, 'Hey, this is what it looks like,'" Sarkisian said. "'And this is how to go about your business.'"

The son of Cooper Manning, Arch Manning has never been a backup. He was the starting varsity quarterback as a freshman at the Isidore Newman School in New Orlean and rewrote the Louisiana high school record books by erasing the prominent names of previous record-holders -- his uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning. Arch Manning owns the state marks for passing yards and touchdown passes.

A five-star recruit who enrolled early, Manning should "still be in high school," Sarkisian reminded on Monday following Texas' first practice of the spring. He's just 17 and won't be 18 until May.

While Sarkisian said he doesn't want to use any special lens to evaluate his quarterbacks on a day-to-day basis, Sarkisian said it's easy for outsiders to forget what it means to be a freshman.

"For Arch today, Day 1, there's some plays for sure that he would love to have back," Sarkisian said. "There's some other plays that he made where I think everybody was like, 'Wow, that was a heck of a play.' But he brings a worker's mentality and he wants to be really good at this game."

UCLA's Chip Kelly gets extension through '27 season

UCLA's Chip Kelly gets extension through '27 season

UCLA football coach Chip Kelly signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him with the Bruins through the 2027 season.

Athletic director Martin Jarmond announced the extension Friday but did not disclose the financial terms.

In January 2022, Kelly and UCLA agreed on an extension through the 2025 season. The Los Angeles Times reported that Kelly would earn an average of $4.7 million per season.

UCLA leadership rewarded Kelly for guiding the Bruins to a No. 21 season-ending ranking and a 9-4 (6-3 Pac-12) mark. UCLA was in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2014.

Kelly was hired at UCLA before the 2018 season, and the Bruins finished a disappointing 3-9 (3-6 Pac-12). After back-to-back winning seasons, Kelly now has a 27-29 record in Westwood. His teams were 46-7 in four seasons at Oregon (2009-12).

"I am excited about our football program under the leadership of Coach Kelly and his talented staff," Jarmond said in a news release. "The football program is on an upward trajectory, both on the field and in the classroom. Coach Kelly and his staff have done a tremendous job developing young men as demonstrated by their academic excellence."

The 2022 Bruins averaged 503.6 yards per game in 2022 and became the first team in program history to average more than 500 yards of total offense per game.

Kelly, 59, was 28-35 as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers from 2013-16.

NCAA football rules committee: Clock to run after first downs

NCAA football rules committee: Clock to run after first downs

Stopping the clock after a first down would be limited to the final two minutes of either half under a proposal submitted by the NCAA Football Rules Committee.

The proposal is among many that could be approved in a vote on April 20.

"The NCAA Football Rules Committee has proposed several timing rules changes intended to continue the effort to control the flow of the game and encourage more consistent game management. The committee anticipates the adjustments, which were finalized Friday in Indianapolis, would modestly reduce the number of plays in the game, something the committee will study closely during the 2023 season," the committee said in a statement Friday.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, co-chair of the committee, said the "rule change is a small step intended to reduce the overall game time and will give us some time to review the impact of the change."

Other proposed changes include prohibiting a team from calling consecutive timeouts and carrying over penalties at the end of the first and third quarter to be enforced on the first play of the following quarter.

The committee approved "optional use of instant replay in games that do not have an instant replay booth official" after a pilot program in the Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association allowed referees to utilize "available video" to make decisions on reviewable plays.

Report: Alabama hires Charlie Strong as defensive analyst

Report: Alabama hires Charlie Strong as defensive analyst

Alabama has hired three-time head coach Charlie Strong as a defensive analyst, Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday.

The move reunites Strong with Kevin Steele; the pair worked together at Miami during the 2022 season. Steele bolted to become the defensive coordinator at Alabama; Strong left after not being given an opportunity to take over the DC job under head coach Mario Cristobal.

Strong, 62, was co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the Hurricanes in 2022.

Strong went 74-53 as head coach at Louisville (2010-13), Texas (2014-16) and South Florida (2017-19). He also coached a game on an interim basis at Florida in 2004.

Strong was assistant head coach and linebackers coach under Urban Meyer with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 before joining Cristobal at Miami.

Strong previously served as an analyst for Alabama in 2020.

CFP committee adds 3 members, retains Boo Corrigan as chair

CFP committee adds 3 members, retains Boo Corrigan as chair

The College Football Playoff management committee extended the term of Boo Corrigan as selection committee chairman for another football season and appointed three members on Wednesday.

Corrigan, the athletic director at North Carolina State, will helm the selection committee through the 2023 football season. It will be his second year in the position.

Appointed to the committee were Chris Ault, retired head coach and athletic director at Nevada; Jennifer Cohen, athletic director at Washington; and David Sayler, athletic director at Miami (Ohio).

The new members will take their seats on the committee this spring and serve for three years. The terms of Tom Burman, Rick George and John Urschel have expired.

"We are excited to have Chris, Jennifer and David join the selection committee as we enter our 10th season," said Bill Hancock, the CFP's executive director, in a news release. "Their expertise, understanding and character, along with their passion for college football, will allow them to make the transition seamlessly with the returning members."

Hancock also said he was pleased Corrigan will return as the committee chair.

"He did an outstanding job leading the committee last year, serving as an efficient manager inside the room and an effective spokesperson to the media and fans," Hancock said.

The 13-member committee is tasked with selecting the top four college football teams to compete in the season-ending playoff, as well as ranking the other teams in the top 25.

UNC hires Freddie Kitchens as run game coordinator

UNC hires Freddie Kitchens as run game coordinator

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens joined North Carolina's staff as the run game coordinator and tight ends coach on Tuesday.

Kitchens has 24 years of coaching experience, 16 of which came in the NFL. He was at the helm in Cleveland in 2019, producing a 6-10 record.

He has also held various roles with the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants in addition to serving as the Browns' associate head coach, running backs coach and offensive coordinator prior to taking over as head coach.

"Freddie brings a wealth of experience as a head coach, a coordinator and a position coach," Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown said in a statement. "We were really impressed with his resume and believe he will mesh nicely with the other members of the staff. Freddie has a great offensive mind and his experience will be invaluable both in the meeting rooms and on the field.

"We're looking forward to getting (him) to Chapel Hill and can't wait to see him work with our talented tight ends group."

Kitchens will replace John Lilly, who joined the Carolina Panthers on Thursday as the team's tight ends coach.

Kitchens, 48, most recently served as a senior football analyst at South Carolina during the 2022 season.

After one season (1999) as running backs coach and tight ends coach at Division II Glenville State, Kitchens was a graduate assistant for LSU in 2000 before spending three seasons as running backs coach at North Texas (2001-03). He then went to Mississippi State, where he was the tight ends coach in 2004 before reverting back to a running backs coach in 2005.

During his time as the tight ends coach with the Cardinals, Arizona went to Super Bowl XLIII, where it lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Reports: UNC hires Freddie Kitchens as TE coach

Reports: UNC hires Freddie Kitchens as TE coach

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens is joining North Carolina as tight ends coach, multiple outlets reported Monday.

He worked as a senior football analyst for South Carolina in the 2022 season, and he'll be able to give Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown some insight about the Gamecocks. The two teams are set to open their 2023 seasons on Sept. 2 in Charlotte.

Kitchens spent 15 seasons in the NFL, beginning as tight ends coach with the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. He coached tight ends for the Cardinals for the next six seasons, then spent five more seasons with Arizona in other coaching roles before joining the Browns in 2018, being elevated to offensive coordinator that season.

The Browns named him head coach in 2019 and fired him at the end of a 6-10 season.

He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the New York Giants.

At North Carolina, Kitchens will replace John Lilly, who was named the tight ends coach with the Carolina Panthers.


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