Spring Buzz
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Georgia Tech played their spring game over the weekend. Team Swarm won, 34-10 over Team Wreck ‘Em in the Yellow Jackets’ annual White & Gold Game.
The game consisted of four quarters – the first half with 12-minute quarters and standard clock operations, the second half with 15-minute quarters and a running clock.
Tech went 9-4 last season and finished ranked No. 24. They were ranked as high as No. 7 during the season and they were 6-2 in the ACC.
The 2026 roster features five returning all-ACC performers from last year’s team (PK Aidan Birr, OL Malachi Carney, LB Kyle Efford, RB Malachi Hosley and OL Ethan Mackenny) and 19 highly touted incoming transfers, headlined by RB Justice Haynes and QB Alberto Mendoza.
“Alberto is the guy,” coach Brent Key said when asked about the Yellow Jackets’ quarterbacks’ room after Saturday’s spring game.
Mendoza was named offensive captain for the spring game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown. The redshirt sophomore is the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza announced his decision to transfer less than 24 hours after winning a national title at Indiana, where he was the backup for his older brother, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this week’s NFL draft.
“Obviously, he still has to compete and still has to win the job, but he’s done nothing to disappoint me and think that’s not going to be the case,” Key told Georgia Tech’s radio network during the spring game.
Haynes transferred in from Michigan. Last season he rushed for 857 yards, 10 touchdowns and he averaged 7.1 yards per carry. The senior running back ran nine times for 48 yards in Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage.
Sophomore running back J.P. Powell had a game-high 68 yards on just three carries, including a 56-yard touchdown run.
Senior running back Malachi Hosley averaged 6.2 yards per carry (4 carries for 26 yards) including an 18-yard touchdown. Last season Hosley rushed for 697 yards, 7 touchdowns and he averaged 7.1 ypc. He also had 14 receptions for 119 yards.
It looks like the Yellow Jackets will have a deep running back room, if these guys don’t transfer before the season.
Redshirt freshman tight end Kevin Roche Jr. had game highs with six receptions for 70 yards. His longest catch was 35 yards and he was always open and making plays for Team Swarm. He looks like he could have a big role going into the fall.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Grady Adamson and redshirt junior running back Chad Alexander were responsible for Team Swarm’s remaining three touchdowns, as the connected on an 11-yard scoring pass and each had 3-yard TD runs. Adamson completed 8 of 11 passes for 104 yards.
Sophomore wide receivers Debron Gatling and Jordan Allen had 47 and 42 receiving yards, respectively (Gatling’s included an 18-yard TD catch from Mendoza).
Defensively, transfer defensive ends Jordan Walker (Rutgers) and Noah Carter (Alabama) had two sacks apiece for Team Swarm, while redshirt senior defensive back Savion Riley led Team Wreck ‘Em with a game-high seven tackles.
Next Level Camden Athletes
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One thing Camden County High School has become known for over the years is producing athletes who don’t stop competing when their high school careers end.
Across multiple sports, Wildcat athletes continue to earn opportunities to play at the college level, carrying with them the work ethic and competitive mindset they developed right here in Kingsland.
Recent college commitments are just the latest examples of that tradition. From wrestling and golf to football, tennis, softball, and soccer, Camden athletes continue to prove they can compete with programs across the country.
One of the most decorated athletes to come through the Camden wrestling program in recent years is Ryder Wilder, who will be heading to Northwestern University, one of the premier wrestling programs in the nation. Northwestern competes in the Big Ten, widely considered the toughest conference in Division I wrestling.
Wilder built an impressive resume during his time at Camden, winning four individual state championships while helping lead the Wildcats to team titles each of his four years.
His signing shows just how strong Camden’s wrestling program continues to be, regularly producing athletes who can compete at the highest level of college wrestling.
Another Camden wrestling standout is Hunter Prosen, who signed with NAIA powerhouse Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.
Prosen put together an incredible high school career, winning three individual state championships in three different weight classes and helping the Wildcats capture four team state titles in both duals and traditional formats.
His combination of talent, toughness, and dedication made him one of the top wrestlers Camden has ever produced. At Southeastern, he plans to continue wrestling while also pursuing a career in aviation with hopes of becoming a pilot.
The Wildcat tradition extends well beyond the wrestling mat.
On the golf course, standout Georgia Blount signed with James Madison University, a Division I program in Virginia.
Blount has been one of the most consistent high school golfers in Georgia, finishing second in the GHSA state tournament as both a freshman and sophomore before placing third last season.
Years of dedication and practice helped her reach this level, and the coaching staff at James Madison believes she has the talent and leadership to succeed in their program.
National Signing Day also brought several other Wildcat athletes the chance to celebrate the next step in their athletic careers.
Gracie Robinson signed to play tennis at Piedmont University, while softball standout Hannah Turley committed to Gordon State College.
On the football side, three Wildcats are also moving on.
Linebacker Zion Branch will play at Daytona Beach Christian in Florida. Safety William Johnson earned one of the most impressive opportunities of all, signing with the United States Air Force Academy. And running back Antwan Williams will continue his career at Reinhardt University.
Each of these players helped represent Camden County on Friday nights and will now take their talents to the college level.
Soccer is also part of the Wildcat pipeline.
Senior Joshua “David” Hewitt recently signed with Toccoa Falls College, where he will continue playing for the Screaming Eagles while also earning the school’s Presidential Scholarship.
Of course, these athletes represent only a small sample of the many Wildcats who have continued their careers in college athletics. Every year, Camden County sends athletes to programs across the country.
Their success is a reflection of the strong culture built by coaches, teachers, and families who support them along the way.
More importantly, it reflects the countless hours these athletes spend practicing, training, and competing to reach their goals.
For me, watching Camden athletes sign scholarships and continue playing the sports they love never gets old.
It is simply another reminder that the Wildcat tradition of excellence doesn’t stop at graduation.
It just moves on to the next level.
Miami Defensive End Given Preferential Treatment In Car Crash Death?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
University of Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was the driver during a traffic collision in the early hours of March 17, 2024, that resulted in one of the passengers, 22-year-old Destiny Betts, being severely injured, according to court documents.
Destiny Betts, who was one of four passengers, was not wearing a seatbelt, according to the crash report, and died from her injuries nearly three months later, on June 13, 2024.
Bain was issued a citation for careless driving, with police saying that he “operated his vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.” No field sobriety test was conducted.
The citation would eventually be dismissed, with the reason listed as “defective citation,” and Bain was never charged in connection with the crash.
According to a diagram in the crash report, first obtained Interstate-95 has five regular lanes and an additional express lane. The report states that Bain, (driver) was traveling northbound in the outside center lane when the left front of his vehicle collided with the right rear of another car.
The collision resulted in Bain’s vehicle going through two lanes on the right and hitting the east concrete wall before going across the entire six-lane highway. It hit the west concrete wall, where the vehicle eventually came to a stop.
In October 2024, the driver of the collided car sued Bain on a count of motor vehicle negligence, alleging that the wreck caused him physical injury along with mental anguish.
Another driver voluntarily dismissed his case with prejudice in June. Court records also show a mediation session was scheduled for March, including counsel representing Bain, Betts’ estate and an auto insurance company.
In a separate incident, Bain was issued another citation on Oct. 14, 2025, which indicated he was involved in another crash. The second citation was also dismissed due to a “defective citation.”
As with most prior legal situations, NFL teams will conduct their own investigations into the incident and make their own decisions based on all available information — including anything from law enforcement and whether or not Bain was up front about his incident during team interviews .
Bain is considered one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL Draft. Bain checks in at No. 9 overall and the third-best edge rusher, behind Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey.
Despite his top-tier talent, questions have swirled around Bain leading up to the draft because of his arm length, which checks in at under 31 inches.
I’m curious on how the University of Miami has kept his driving history out of the media. With no field sobriety, test and lack of media, is this another prime example of an elite athlete getting away with crime?
Brawling Braves
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Baseball has changed a lot in recent years.
The pitch clock has sped things up, analytics are everywhere, and the league has made several rule changes to modernize the game.
But every once in a while, something happens that reminds you baseball still carries a little bit of its old-school edge.
That’s exactly what happened during the Atlanta Braves’ 7–2 win over the Los Angeles Angels when tensions between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler erupted into a bench-clearing fight.
The moment itself came in the fifth inning, but the frustration had clearly been building before that. Soler had already taken López deep earlier in the game with a home run, continuing a trend that has seen him have a lot of success against the Braves pitcher over the years.
Later in the game, Soler was hit by a pitch, which only added to the tension between the two.
Then came the pitch that set everything off.
López fired one high and inside that got dangerously close to Soler’s head. Whether it was intentional or just a pitch that got away from the pitcher is something people will debate, but from Soler’s point of view it was enough.
He immediately charged the mound, and within seconds punches were flying as both teams poured out of their dugouts.
For baseball fans, it was one of those chaotic moments that feels like it belongs in another era. Bench-clearing fights aren’t nearly as common as they used to be, but when they happen, they still grab everyone’s attention.
Part of what makes this one so interesting to me is the history involved.
Soler isn’t just another opposing player. He used to wear a Braves uniform and was a huge part of Atlanta’s championship run earlier in the decade.
López and Soler also share a past as former teammates. So, this wasn’t just two strangers going at it. There is a lot of familiarity between the players involved.
From Soler’s side, the situation probably felt suspicious. After already getting hit by a pitch earlier in the game, and then seeing another one come up near his head is the kind of thing that can flip a switch for a hitter.
In baseball, pitchers often work inside to keep hitters uncomfortable, but there’s always that thin line where it starts to look personal.
On the other hand, López said there was no intention behind the pitch. Pitchers miss their spots all the time, especially when facing someone who has historically hit them well.
Trying too hard to make the perfect pitch can sometimes lead to the exact kind of mistake that causes trouble.
In the middle of all the chaos was Braves manager Walt Weiss, who did something you don’t see every day.
Weiss jumped into the fray and actually tackled Soler to the ground in an effort to calm things down before someone got hurt. It was an unusual moment, but it probably helped keep the situation from getting even worse.
Despite the punches and the benches emptying, the fight ended without any serious injuries. Both players were tossed from the game, and eventually things settled down.
And once the dust cleared, the Braves took care of business on the scoreboard, finishing off a solid 7–2 win.
Moments like this always spark debate among fans. Some people think baseball needs to leave this kind of thing in the past. Others, like me, see it as proof that the game still has emotion and intensity behind it.
Either way, it was a reminder that even in today’s faster, more modern version of baseball, the competitive fire that has always defined the sport is still very much alive.
Sometimes, all it takes is one pitch that gets a little too close.
Boys From The South
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
With the NFL draft only a few weeks away, I want to take a look around the NFC South and see what each team needs.
New Orleans Saints (6-11): The biggest team needs are WR, Edge, OL, DL and CB.
New Orleans has the No. 8 pick in the first round. They were not good in 2025 but it looks like they found their quarterback of the future in Tyler Shough.
Shough (Louisville) was drafted in the second-round last season with the 40th pick. He became a starter in Week 9 after the team fell to 1-7.
He set the franchise record for wins by a rookie QB and he became the first rookie quarterback with 300-plus passing yards in a game in Week 16’s matchup against the Jets. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for his play in December/January.
He finished the season completing 221 of 327 passes for 2,384 yards with 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, he also rushed 45 times for 186 yards and 3 touchdowns.
I think they need another target outside of wide receiver Chris Olave. I expect them to select WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State). The 6’2, 192 lbs. receiver might be the best in the draft class. Last season he played 11 games and had 51 catches, 875 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9): The biggest team needs are Edge, DL, CB, LB, OL.
They have the No. 16 pick in the draft. The Bucs won the division in 2024, going 10-7
Last season, they were tied with Atlanta and Carolina at 8-9. They have lost veteran receiver Mike Evans in free agency to San Francisco.
Tampa ranked 20th in total defense in 2025. They also ranked 19th in sacks with 37 for the season.
I believe they would select edge Keldric Faulk (Auburn). He’s 6’6 and 276 pounds. Last season he had 29 tackles, 5 TFL and 2 sacks. In 2024, he had 45 tackles, 11 TFL and 7 sacks. He was named third-team All-SEC (2025).
Carolina Panthers (8-9): The biggest team needs are OL, S, WR, CB, DL.
Carolina has the 19th pick.
The division champs saw quarterback Bryce Young drastically improve in his third season. Young went 8-8 as a starter, completed 63.6% of his passes for 3,011 yards, 23 scores and 11 picks. He also rushed 54 times for 216 yards and 2 TD’s.
Rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with 70 receptions, 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns.
I think they’ll get OT Blake Miller (Clemson) to strengthen their offensive line. The 6’7, 317 lbs. tackle was named First team All-ACC (2024, 2025).
Atlanta Falcons (8-9): The biggest needs are WR, DL, CB, Edge, LB.
Atlanta has the #48 pick in the second round for their first pick in the draft. I went in depth about the Falcons roster and biggest team needs last week, so I won’t delve as deep today.
Because of where they’re drafting, we do not know who will be available. I am guessing they will select edge Malachi Lawrence (UCF). The 6’4, 235 lbs. defensive end was named First-team All-Big 12 (2025). He had 28 tackles, 11 TFL and 7 sacks last season.
Shiny Armor?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
UCF Spring Football is underway, and the Knights have another opportunity to learn more about their reshaped roster under head coach Scott Frost as he enters his second first season in Orlando.
While expectations of another 2017-style undefeated run are unrealistic, optimism around this team is growing fast. UCF returns with a strong amount of production from last season while also adding key transfers, providing a much stronger foundation than it had a year ago.
Although the season remains months away, spring football offers the first real look at what this team could become in 2026. From position battles to scheme fits and leadership development, there is plenty to learn before kickoff arrives.
Here are the three offensive biggest questions UCF needs to answer during spring football.
How quickly can Alonza Barnett III take command of the offense? There is no question Alonzo Barnett III is the headline addition of UCF’s offseason.
Adding a projected starting quarterback who just led JMU on a run to the College Football Playoff immediately raises both the standard and the expectations for UCF entering the 2026 season.
Head coach Scott Frost and the staff believe in Barnett beyond physical tools. They view him as a proven winner, someone with the leadership, poise, and playmaking ability to elevate the players around him.
The biggest question, though, is how quickly that success can translate. Barnett spent the past four seasons at James Madison developing within one system and growing comfortable in that environment.
Now, he is being asked to step into a new offense, build chemistry with a new locker room and replicate that same production in essentially one offseason. No pressure, right?
One of the biggest focuses this spring is Frost and quarterbacks coach McKenzie Milton. They must work to build timing, chemistry and overall cohesiveness around football’s most important position on the field.
Can AJ Blazek fix UCF’s offensive line issues? The Knight’s offensive line enters spring as one of the biggest areas to monitor after difficulty and inconsistency in 2025.
The Knights endured the tragic loss of offensive line coach Shawn Clack early in the year, and even with Danny Hope stepping in to help stabilize the group, the unit never fully found its rhythm.
At times, the line showed flashes individually. Collectively they struggled, which led to costly mistakes, like penalties at the worst possible moments. Whether it was a holding call or a false start, it frequently felt like UCF’s momentum was being derailed during key second-half drives or comeback opportunities.
Now, UCF turns to new offensive line coach AJ Blazek to reshape the group.
Blazek wasted no time putting his stamp on the room, helping bring in four transfer portal additions to compete for major roles up front. While the tackle spots appear relatively stable entering spring, the biggest questions lie on the interior, where center and guard battles could play a major role in determining the offense’s ceiling.
Few position groups will be impacted more by UCF’s offensive line play than the running backs.
Who will emerge as UCF’s lead running back? The Knights brought in two experienced transfer backs in Duke Watson and Laden Chambers, both of whom are expected to compete for major roles in the offense. Each brings a different skill set, but both have the experience to help carry the load in Scott Frost’s system.
The biggest question is who will separate themselves as the true three-down back.
That battle becomes even more intriguing with Taevion Swint returning to the mix after missing last season with a meniscus injury. The former four-star recruit has worked his way back and gives UCF another talented option in the room if he is fully healthy.
Spring camp should provide the first real look at how the workload could be divided and whether one back is ready to take control of the position group.
Spring practices officially begin for the Knights on March 31st, giving UCF their first real chance to start answering these 3 questions on the field.
Azaleas In Bloom
By: Brian Albertson
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As the wisteria and azaleas begin to bloom here in the South, it means only one thing to many of us……The Masters is upon us!
This year’s Masters Tournament is set for April 9-12 at Augusta National GC, featuring a $21 million purse.
Scottie Scheffler enters the 2026 Masters as the clear betting favorite, following a dominant 2025 season and an early win already this season on the PGA Tour.
Other top contenders include defending champion Rory McIlroy followed by the two top LIV Tour players Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (Valspar) and Cameron Young (Players Championship) enter the Masters in top form with recent wins.
Other notable contenders this year appear to be current leader of the DP World Tour and former Masters champion Patrick Reed, Ludvig Aberg, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Chris Gotterup and Brooks Koepka.
Obviously the field is made up of the very best players in the world so anyone can win. There are always a few surprise players on the leaderboard throughout the week mixed in with the favorites.
On a local note, South Georgia will be represented in this year’s Masters by 18 year old Mason Howell of Thomasville, Georgia.
Howell is a High School senior and has signed to play for the Georgia Bulldogs next year.
He has been taught for many years by my friend and fellow PGA Professional Bill Connally at Glen Arven CC.
Conallyis an outstanding golf instructor and has produced many fine players over the years. Mason will be the youngest player in the field and undoubtedly will have a huge following at this year‘s Masters cheering him on.
I had a chance recently to chat with retiring UGA Golf Head Coach Chris Haack and he is always very proud of his former players that have made it to the PGA Tour and the Majors.
This year, former UGA Golfers Harris English, Russell Henley, Sepp Straka, Brian Harman and two time Masters Champion Bubba Watson will all be in the field.
A couple of other local Saint Simons/Sea Island residents competing this year are Andrew Novak and 2007 Masters Champion Zach Johnson. We wish all of our locally connected players the best of luck as they pursue the coveted Green Jacket.
I have attended the Masters tournament every year since 1984 with the exception of the Covid year.
I always look forward to returning each spring. Each year I love to walk the golf course and simply enjoy the beauty of Augusta National Golf Club.
The patrons are always the most behaved audience in sports just as Mr. Bobby Jones would wish.
I am quite certain Mr. Jones looks down with great pride at what he created many years ago at this old nursery in Augusta. It is truly spectacular and is set to write the next chapter of Masters history.
Enjoy This Year’s Masters.
Spring Is In The Air
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Spring football is underway in Athens, and the Georgia Bulldogs football are already starting to get a clearer picture of what the roster might look like heading into the 2026 season.
The Bulldogs are approaching the midpoint of spring practice, and in a recent press conference head coach Kirby Smart said he’s been pleased with the work his team has put in so far.
Practices have been competitive, with plenty of young players getting valuable reps as Georgia continues to build depth across the roster.
Of course, it wouldn’t be spring practice without a few bumps and bruises. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has been wearing a sleeve on his knee after dealing with a minor injury during offseason workouts. Smart said Stockton was limited a little early in spring practice but has been out there competing and continuing to improve.
Several other Bulldogs have also been limited.
Wide receiver Isiah Canion, a transfer expected to help lead the receiving corps, has been dealing with a sprained ankle. Defensive back, and former Camden County Wildcat Ja’Marley Riddle is still working back from a significant injury and hasn’t been able to participate much physically yet.
On top of that, a handful of players have been held out of spring practice entirely while recovering from injuries, including Drew Bobo, Gabe Harris, Zayden Walker, Jordan Hall, Kyron Jones and Carter Luckie.
Even with those setbacks, Smart says the team has shown good energy during the first several practices.
One of the biggest storylines this spring is along the offensive line. Georgia made a change during the offseason, promoting Phil Rauscher to offensive line coach after he spent last year with the program as an analyst.
Rauscher brings a long NFL background to the position, and players say he’s already introduced some new ideas, especially when it comes to understanding how the offensive line fits into the bigger picture of the offense.
There’s also plenty of competition up front. Georgia lost a couple of experienced linemen and is rotating multiple players at tackle, guard and center this spring.
Smart said the coaching staff is using spring practice to evaluate as many players as possible while building depth at one of the most important positions on the field.
Another player drawing attention early in spring practice is defensive lineman Elijah Griffin.
Smart said Griffin has shown flashes of being disruptive with his quickness and strength.
The freshman still has plenty of development ahead of him, but the coaching staff believes he has the tools to become a major contributor on the defensive front.
The quarterback room has also been busy this spring. Behind Stockton, several younger quarterbacks are getting a lot of extra work in practice and during seven on seven drills. Smart said repetition is key for developing quarterbacks, and Georgia has been intentional about making sure those players get as many reps as possible.
Meanwhile, the running back group is focusing on the next step in its development.
Smart said players like Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are working on things like pass protection, catching the ball out of the backfield and creating yards after contact.
All of that work will eventually lead to one of the most anticipated events of the spring in Athens.
Georgia’s annual spring game, known as G-Day, is set for April 18 at Sanford Stadium.
The scrimmage begins at 1 p.m. and will give fans their first look at the 2026 Bulldogs in a game type setting.
With several practices still ahead, Smart says the focus right now is simple. He wants his team to keep competing, keep improving and keep building toward the fall.
Needy Falcons
By: Kenneth Harrison
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2026 NFL draft is less than one month away.
We are going to take a look at the Atlanta Falcons and see what the team’s biggest needs are after free agency.
Atlanta Falcons (8-9): Atlanta traded their 2026 first-round pick to the LA Rams last season to move up and draft DE James Pearce Jr. He had a very good rookie season in 2025, which includes 26 tackles, 10 TFL and 10.5 sacks.
The problem is the character issues that caused him to slip in the 2025 draft have surfaced.
In early February he stalked his ex-girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson in Miami. He appeared to intentionally hit her vehicle as she attempted to reach a police station.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office has brought three felony charges against the pass-rusher. They are aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing and eluding police, and resisting an officer with violence to his or her person. He also faces a charge of aggravated stalking that was changed from a felony to a misdemeanor.
I’m surprised the Falcons have not dropped Pearce yet. With that said I think Atlanta can add an edge rusher to the list of what the team needs.
The biggest team needs are WR, DL, CB, Edge and LB.
Here is a list of the players Atlanta has acquired through free agency. QB Tua Tagovailoa, QB Trevor Siemian, RB Brian Robinson, RB Tyler Goodson, WR Jahan Dotson, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Austin Hooper, Edge Samson Ebukam, Edge Azeez Ojulari, DE Cameron Thomas, DT LaCale London, DL Da’Shawn Hand, DL Chris Williams, LB Christian Harris, K Nick Folk and P Jake Bailey.
Atlanta did franchise tag TE Kyle Pitts. They also made a trade to Philadelphia for S Sydney Brown. He is the identical twin brother of Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown.
The Falcons receive Brown and 2026 fourth- and sixth-round selections, while the Eagles receive 2026 fourth- and sixth-round picks. Brown has started 9 games for the Eagles in his tree years with the team.
As you can see, Atlanta hasn’t really signed any marquee players. I believe they should add a playmaker at wide receiver to play opposite of Drake London.
Darnell Mooney was WR2 for the last two seasons. He was great in 2024, with 64 receptions, 992 yards and 5 touchdowns. Last season was terrible though. He only had 32 catches, 443 yards and 1 TD in 15 games.
The interior defensive line could use more size. The team also needs to upgrade the cornerback position around A.J. Terrell.
The Falcons only have five draft picks this year. They are; #48 (Round 2), #79 (Round 3), #122 (Round 4), #215 (Round 6) and #231 (Round 7).
It is hard to tell who will be available in the later rounds. I think the second-round pick will be an offensive or defensive lineman.
Edge Malachi Lawrence (UCF) might be an option. He had 28 tackles, 11 TFL and 7 sacks in 2025. He was also named All-Big 12 First Team.
Offensive tackle Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) could also be an option. He started all 14 games at right tackle and he played on 923 of ASU’s 974 offensive snaps on the season. He also posted the nation’s 38th-best grade on zone blocking run plays among tackles at 78.1.
Jarring Loss
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
An uncomfortable silence filled Florida’s locker room in the aftermath of the contest between the Gators and Iowa Hawkeyes, save for sniffles and, from center Rueben Chinyelu, an uncontrollable sob.
The Gators, who’d played with a target on their backs all season long as the defending national champions, had suffered a one-point loss to Iowa less than 20 minutes earlier, with defeat having ended their season far sooner than the collective had expected and hoped for, with the team intending to make another deep run in March and into the first weekend in April.
The season-ending defeat came at the hands of an Iowa team that for much of the contest was more physical and carved up a UF defense that entered the NCAA Tournament as one of the nation’s best, and it was difficult for Florida to process what had occurred, as much as they tried, as tears flowed around the room, from players to managers and athletic trainers.
Micah Handlogten sat in his locker, tears filling his eyes – to his credit, he spoke openly on what the team had meant to him, how it felt to see his collegiate career potentially conclude barring a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA, less than an hour earlier.
The team’s reserves, who will have opportunities in the future to make another run in the NCAA Tournament, in Olivier Rioux, Alex Lloyd and CJ Ingram, sat in silence.
Meanwhile, Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Xaivian Lee addressed the media nearby in the postgame press conference, with Haugh’s emotional dismay evident, a far cry from his exuberance nearly a year prior when he threw his hands into the air to celebrate Florida’s national championship.
There was no one in particular to blame for the loss the Gators just got beat, simple as that but more could have been done, and the Gators acknowledged as much.
A critical role player down the stretch, sophomore Isaiah Brown split a pair of free throws with eight seconds and change remaining in regulation, to give the Gators a two-point lead.
After connecting on the second attempt, Iowa beat Florida’s press and found Alvaro Folguieras wide-open in the corner for what would be the go-ahead three-pointer, and the Gators, after a timeout by the Hawkeyes, were unable to get a shot off in the closing seconds as Lee drove right and couldn’t get a clean look at the rim, instead attempting to find Haugh under the basket to no avail.
The loss will stick with the team beyond the weekend, and Brown won’t soon forget his timely misfire at the charity stripe, although he’ll look to use it as fuel to the fire in the years to come.
As Brown spoke, the sobs of Rueben Chinyelu could be heard nearby. The 6-foot-10 center, who finished with zero points and a lone rebound against an undersized Iowa frontcourt, couldn’t hide his devastation, even as associate head coach Carlin Hartman attempted to console the third-year big man who’d played a pivotal role in UF’s run to the national championship a season ago and had blossomed into one of the nation’s best defensive players as an upperclassman.
But Iowa didn’t go away, far from it, instead scoring five-consecutive points to swing the momentum back in its direction.
Post-defeat it’s even tougher, with players not wanting to think about the loss marking a conclusion to their time with a program, though Condon and Haugh in particular knew the questions would come.
Their decisions in the weeks if not days ahead will determine how Florida begins the process of moving on and regrouping for the 2026-27 season.
There were many skeptics from the jump this season, starting with Florida’s season-opening loss to Arizona in Las Vegas, a contest that may have been under-appreciated for its difficulty considering the Wildcats weren’t largely expected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
UF would suffer defeat three additional times in non-conference play to start the season with a 5-4 record, and many questioned whether or not the Gators would be capable of making another deep run.
Doubters soon turned into believers as the Gators won 21 of their next 23 games to win the Southeastern Conference regular season title and secure a second-consecutive No. 1 seed for the first time in program history.
That’s how Florida’s coaching staff will remember this iteration of the Gators: not for Sunday’s loss in Tampa, but for the team’s ability to overcome adversity, become a close-knit group and play their best brand of basketball into the closing months of the regular Hartman, who has been instrumental in developing Florida’s under-recruited frontcourt into the nation’s best, is hopeful it won’t be the final time he’ll coach the team’s forwards and centers.
Yet he knows the chances are slim to none the group does what they did a season ago and return for another ride. His support for them won’t wane, however, if the frontcourt comes to the determination that moving on is in their best interest.
Exit meetings will occur in the near future, after Florida’s decompressed and processed more of the end result, not that coming to an understanding and eventual acceptance will ease the pain of a jarring defeat.
That’s how this group will be remembered by those within the confines of Florida’s basketball program: as winners, many of whom achieved the ultimate goal of cutting down the nets as the last team standing in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Doing it once is rare enough hoisting the trophy in back-to-back seasons is an elusive feat experienced by just three programs over the last 53 years.
