Joe Delaney
Way Too Early Heisman
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Heisman hopefuls for 2024. As we move forward with the 2024 season let’s look at the early hopefuls for the coveted Heisman Trophy as College Football’s Most Outstanding Player.
A month into the season; let’s look at who’s hot and who’s not.
We lead off with Quinn Ewers of the now #1 ranked Texas Longhorns. The 6’ 2” 210 QB has thrown for around 700 yards. Great numbers but where we go from here remains to be seen.
Ewers sustained an oblique strain in the second quarter of the UTSA game and is now week to week. He better get ready pretty quick for two reasons.
First the meat of the schedule is coming up with Oklahoma and Georgia back-to-back.
Secondly, Ewers has the highest rated backup in football in Arch Manning. If Manning takes off Ewers may have a hard time getting back on the field much less win the Heisman.
I’m thinking Ewers is a lukewarm candidate as of now. And those games with Oklahoma and Georgia will tell us where Ewers and the Longhorns are going.
Next up is Carson Beck of the now #2 Georgia Bulldogs. Both Beck and the Dawgs looked very beatable and average against the Kentucky Wildcats. The good thing is that they still won the game.
The 6’4” 220lb Beck has thrown for 680 yards and 7 TDS and 0 INTs. Beck may be hampered in that he won’t lead the nation in passing yards and TDs. But he might lead the Dawgs to the National Championship.
We will see how the next few weeks play out as the Dawgs have to travel to both Alabama and Texas. Get HOT in those two games and Beck has a good shot.
Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide is HOT. That’s capital letter HOT. The 6’2” 225 LB QB has thrown for 590 yards in 3 games with 8 TDs and 0 INTs. But wait, Mr. Dual Threat has also rushed for 156 Yds and 6 more TDs.
The guy has a great deep ball and can pull it and make defenses pay when he runs out of the pocket. He is a true Dual Threat QB and is leading an Alabama offense that has scored 63, 42, and 42 points in the first 3 games of the season.
If he leads the Elephants to a win over Georgia on September 28th, he will be your front runner.
Well did you notice the top three? Sure, you did. All high profile SEC guys. Let them take away votes from here and there and you might just have Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes hoisting the trophy in New York.
Ward has led the Hurricanes to a top 10 ranking, all the while putting up Heisman type numbers. Try throwing for over 1035 yards and almost 15 TD’. This guy is a real threat. Ward is HOT and if he stays that way he has both the schedule and the team to move his Heisman hopes forward. He’s my dark horse of the top 4.
And yes, it’s so early in the season that other players may step up. Don’t count out Dillon Gabriel of Oregon or Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss. Great players with very good teams behind them.
Add in Shedeur Sanders of Colorado and Nico Iamaleava of Tennessee for a couple of longshots and there you go.
And notice that I haven’t had a position player other than QB. Stranger things have happened but I just don’t see a running back or receiver stepping up. But it’s early.
My way too early pick is Jalen Milroe. This guy is coming into his own and he has a new coach that is going to turn him loose.
Remember, Kalen DeBoer is considered a QB guru. Last year he had Michel Penix Jr. with the Washington Huskies. This year It’s Jalen Milroe.
I think Milroe will put up unbelievable numbers that will vault him into the Heisman discussion. And if the Tide play up to their capabilities. He’s who I think will be on the podium come December.
Tide Continue To Roll?
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, it had to eventually happen. Nobody coaches forever. Not even Nick Saban.
Yes, the GOAT of college football has cashed in his big pile of chips and moved on to the announcers booth and the beach in Florida. He leaves behind a legacy like no other.
In steps Kalen DeBoer with the biggest shoes to fill in college football history. DeBoer is a great young coach with a winning pedigree, and a hell of a lot of guts and grapefruit. That’s what it is going to take to follow Nick.
DeBoer took Washington to the final four last year and brings in a nine-year head coaching record of 104-12. He is really the best coach Alabama could have gone out and got.
The only problem is that the Bama faithful look at that and think of Bear Bryant, Nick Saban and the old Shania Twain song…………”that don’t impress me much!” Everyone in Tuscaloosa will give DeBoer the benefit of the doubt. Until he loses a game.
The good thing for DeBoer and the Crimson Tide is that through all the upheaval and portal transfers in and out, the Tide has one of the best rosters in the country. Couple that with what many say was the best recruiting class in the nation in 23-24. And don’t forget that DeBoer’s 2024 recruiting class is currently ranked in the top 3. The pieces are falling into place. Don’t underestimate this guy.
One of the best things for Alabama is the return of Jalen Milroe. The Tide QB came into his own later in the ‘23 season and is very very good. Don’t agree? Ask the Georgia Bulldogs.
Kalen DeBoer made Michael Penix Jr. a first-round pick last year at Washington. Jalen Milroe has the potential to be much better.
Surrounding Milroe will be a solid and huge offensive line with a lot of experience. Counting Parker Brailsford, who transferred in, the Tide return 4 starters and the TE. Tyler Booker the 6’5” 350 guard could be one of the first linemen off the board in next year’s draft.
Running back will be rock solid with Jam Miller and Justice Haynes. Watch out for the former 5-star Haynes. He could break out this year.
The wide outs are solid and will be bolstered by transfer Germie Bernard. Remember that name. All in all, this offense has greatness written all over it. We will know pretty quickly as the Tide have South Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia in 3 of the first 4 games.
Defensively the Tide have some holes to fill. Returning are Backers Jihaad Campbell and Deontae Lawson. They form one of the best duos in the SEC and maybe the country.
Couple them with a defensive line that has experience and talent and the front 6 in DeBoers 4-2-5 could be very good. Watch out for LT Overton the transfer from Texas A&M. He’s a former 5 star and should get on the field immediately.
The secondary is led by Malachi Moore, a returning captain and ALL-SEC caliber player. Throw in 3 transfers in Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb, and DeShawn Jones and the secondary should be very good. Jackson and Sabb are potential all stars.
This group has all the talent they need. We will know how well they have jelled together in the last week of September when Carson Beck and the Georgia Bulldogs come to town.
Oh, and what do you do when you lose your kicker who was the leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 history. Well, if you’re Alabama, you go get the Lou Groza award winner from last year. Graham Nicholson was 27 of 28 on field goals and should fit in nicely. Add in 3-year starter James Burnip, a second team ALL-SEC selection with a 47.6 yd average and things are good in Tuscaloosa.
The schedule is a tough but manageable one. It sets up very well in September. A USF team that surprisingly gave Bama a tough game last year comes to Tuscaloosa on September 7.
Follow that the next week with a trip to Wisconsin that will be a true test.
Start 3-0 and the nation will have all eyes on the September 28th matchup with the Georgia Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa.
It will be one the most anticipated games of the year. If that secondary plays lights out, Bama will give the Dawgs all the want and maybe more.
From there the usual culprits arise. South Carolina, Missouri, and the Iron Bowl all at home with big road games at Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma.
Beat Georgia at home and barring a collapse, the Crimson Tide will be in the 12-team party at the end of the year.
Undefeated? I don’t think so. But a one or two loss Alabama team will be very dangerous when the playoff comes around. VERY dangerous.
The Favorites
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, soon we will be back watching our favorite college football teams on the gridiron.
Most everyone is picking the Georgia Bulldogs as the nation’s number one team entering the fall. There are a lot of reasons to lean that way. I’ll get into them down below.
So, the Dawgs are preseason numero uno. After 2 national championships back-to-back, the Dawgs fumbled against Alabama last year in a 3-point loss.
The result was they were #5 in a 4-team playoff if you get what I mean. Were they one of the top 4 teams at the end of last year? Oh yeah.
But Nick Saban stuck it to Georgia in the SEC Championship one last time so they got what they deserved.
What they deserved was a bowl game with a Florida State University team that pretty much said “we don’t wanna play”. Well Georgia was pissed and came to play and the result was a 63-3 shellacking. That loss to Alabama cost Georgia a chance to 3-peat. It also showed why Kirby Smart and the Dawgs are so highly thought of going into this year.
They could have had numerous players opt out of the game including Carson Beck, Tate Ratledge, Javon Bullard, Tykee Smith, Kamari Lassiter and on and on. Instead, the Dawgs opted IN.
My point is that these Dawgs are a different breed under Kirby Smart. They try to win every game no matter what. Several of the 2024 Dawgs could have moved on last year but to a man they pretty much felt and said they had unfinished business. That’s why they are #1 going into the season.
Offensively this could be the best team of the Kirby Smart era. Back are starters Carson Beck, Dominic Lovett, Dillon Bell, Earnest Green, Dylan Fairchild, Tate Ratledge, Xavier Truss and Oscar Delp.
Now add in Trevor Etienne, Ben Yurosek and Colbie Young via the portal. This offense is loaded and there is depth all around. The Georgia second string offense is as good as half of the SEC’s STARTING offenses. Look for the Dawgs to light up the scoreboard.
Defensively it’s the same story. They are loaded. This group will need to play well in order for Georgia to win another Natty. Back are Nazir Stackhouse, Mykel Williams, Chaz Chambliss, C. J. Allen, Smael Mondon, Daylen Everette, Dan Jackson, and Malaki Starks. Add in Warren Brinson, Gabe Harris, Raylen Wilson, Jalon Walker and others and the Red and Black are talented, deep and angry.
And let’s not forget the 2023 recruiting class. Another top class that is absolutely loaded on the defensive side of the ball. Many of these pups are making their marks on the practice field as I type this.
Remember the names K.J. Bolden, Nate Frazier, Ellis Robinson IV, and Justin Williams. They will all play vital minutes this fall. And some of this class may be starting by the end of the year. Like I said, these Dawgs are loaded.
Back to do the punting is the seldom used and always appreciated Brett Thorson. He has been consistent and consistent as a two-year starter. Handling the kicking will be Peyton Woodring, who grew into the role last year as a freshman and is very solid.
The return game will be handled by Dillon Bell and Anthony Evans III. Watch out for Michael Jackson III also. He is a portal addition from Southern Cal.
Finally, the schedule……… Ah yes……..The truth be told this team could lose 2 games and still win the National Championship. Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss ON THE ROAD. Add in the opener with Clemson in Atlanta, and games with Kentucky (Away) Auburn, Tennessee, Florida (Jax) and Tech. It is Brutal.
In closing, I don’t expect Georgia to go undefeated. I do expect them to win the 2024-25 National Championship. They are physical, fast, deep and well coached.
And above all these Dawgs are HUNGRY. I see them taking out either Ohio State or Texas in the big one. We’ll see.
Terror-tory
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Its July and its hot and sticky. The weather forecast says RAIN every afternoon.
Lazy summer days with afternoon thunderboomers. But for so many of us it’s really time to start thinking about FOOTBALL. And today it’s specifically GLYNN ACADEMY RED TERROR football.
The Red Terrors of Rocky Hidalgo had a very successful 2023 campaign. 8-3 with an ohhhhhh so close agonizing first round loss in the playoffs.
The Red Terrors picked a bad game to play mediocre football and it cost them in a one point first round loss. On the positive side was another city championship running Rocks record against the Brunswick Pirates to 7-3. But let’s move on and look at 2024. As of today the Terrors are undefeated.
Defensively the 2024 squad should be good. While the number of returning starters may not be overwhelming. The fact is that this Terror team has a lot of juniors and seniors who have played a lot of minutes for the Red and White.
A few years ago as we came out of the pandemic, the Red Terrors were looking at maybe a dozen or so juniors and seniors on the team.
That has drastically changed in the past couple of years and the Terrors will have close to 50 juniors and seniors ready to play on Friday nights.
It’s a big difference. Especially on defense where there are holes to fill.
Quay Evans and Tay Green return on the D-line for the Terrors and Ty Chishom returns in the defensive backfield.
Several other of last year’s contributors will step into starting roles this year. With the depth the Terrors have built recently, Coach Rock feels the defense will be very good.
I think that the key for Glynn will be having some linebackers step up and play big time. If that happens the Terrors could be dangerous.
They could be dangerous because the offense will be lethal.
On offense the Terrors return a great mix of players including 3 offensive linemen.
The games are won or lost in the trenches and this group of road graters should be good.
Add in Josh Baker at center and this group should be solid. They are definitely going to have some guys in the backfield that can take advantage of every crease or hole the Oline gives them.
Returning are TE Deuce Hidalgo, WR Sean Wallace, QB Jayden Ellis and RB Greg Peacock. That’s 7 returning starters and a dozen or so with experience from last year. The Terrors will be fun to watch fosho!
And keep an eye out for Nico Nikomunoz. He’s a young QB who can sling it. If he gets on the field and can distribute the ball it will free up Ellis and Peacock to wreak havoc. Either way this offense has the potential to be VERY good.
Special teams are just that at Glynn and it’s just a question of how good. Returning will be Tuck Tucker to do the punting, kickoffs and FGs. Any time the Red Terrors get in the red zone it should be at least 3 with Tuck.
And keep an eye out for up and coming Patrick Coyle. He would start for most teams in the region but will give Glynn a great backup.
The return teams should be emphasized by Rocky and the staff. They could be electric this time around! Peacock is being recruited by all the D1’s. So, lets hope the Rock puts him back deep and lets the opposing teams kick it to him.
Glynn rolls into 2024 with several new coaches on staff including Steve Sigemund with the DB’s and all important Weightroom. Matt Moore comes on board with the RB’s. And Gage Sills heads up the QB’s. Welcome to the Terrortory gentlemen!
While I’m not going to break down the season game by game, the schedule is formidable.
Richmond Hill returns 18 starters and is in one of the fastest growing areas in the state. Ditto for the Rebels of Effingham. Evans will be loaded this year and Brunswick has talent.
Eight wins for Glynn Academy in the regular season again would be workable if things fall into place. Now let’s see if they can make a playoff run.
No Where To Go
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
No where to go but up?
Well, actually, the Panthers could lose 2 more games in 2024 than they did last year. Carolina went 2-15 last year and looked absolutely horrible doing it.
This franchise has issues that start at the top and that is never a good thing.
Panthers owner David Tepper has blown through coaches at an alarming rate. He has fired 3 different coaches in five years during the season. It is the main reason they are where they are today. Good luck to first year NFL coach Dave Canales. He’s gonna need it.
In 2023 the Panthers traded up to take Bryce Young with the number 1 pick. He was a great college QB at Alabama, who was literally thrown into the fire in Carolina.
At 5’10” and 200 lbs with a very average pro arm, he was ill equipped to lead a horrible offense into the NFL wars as a rookie.
The result was a sub 60% completion rate for around 2900 yards and 11 TDS and 10 interceptions. Then take into account the second pick in that draft was C J Stroud. He ended up as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. You get where this is going…..
Eleven games into the season Tepper fired Head Coach Frank Reich. The Panthers were 1-10 at the time.
As we move into 2024, the Panthers have made some solid moves that may help them move out of the NFL cellar.
They begin on offense. Here is where they suffered the most last year. They brought in Will Harriger to coach the QBs. He has the tough job of trying to revive Bryce Young. The kid was both mentally and physically crushed last year. Take into account he was sacked SIXTY-TWO times last year.
In an effort to keep Young upright the Panthers brought in two solid guards in Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. These might be the best team acquisitions period. A reworked and improved O-line could be the key to the season in 2024.
The Panthers didn’t stop there. To their credit they went out and got WR Diontae Johnson. He brings something the WR room desperately needed. The ability to separate.
Next the Panthers made a great pick in Xavier Legette, the WR from South Carolina. Teamed with Adam Thielen, these guys give Bryce Young some weapons.
In the running back room, Chuba Hubbard, Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathon Brooks will be better with the improved Oline.
In 2023 the Panthers fielded an above average defense headed by Derrick Brown, one of the best players in the league. The guy is a monster. And when paired with A’Shawn Robinson and Shy Tuttle, this is a team strength.
At LB the Panthers went out and got Jadeveon Clowney and DJ Wonnum to run with the great Shaq Thompson. If these guys can play up to their potential then there will be no drop off on defense.
The secondary is led by Xavier Woods and Jaycee Horn, who are very good, although Horn needs to stay healthy.
Special teams are solid with Eddy Pineiro handling the kicking again and Johnny Hekker the punting. Hekker should have gotten overtime pay in 2023.
And finally, where do the Panthers go in 2024? My call is nowhere. The offense should be better and if it can keep the defense off the field it will help.
Keeping the offense somewhat balanced and giving Bryce Young time will be the key. But as I said the problem in my mind is at the top.
The next time David Tepper wants to fire someone, he should look in the mirror.
96
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As we stroll into the dog days of summer, many of us die hard Dawgs look to the upcoming football season while reminiscing about the great run that Georgia has been on. And it has been unquestionably the greatest run in University of Georgia History.
Yes, Wally Butts had some of those great early teams. The Rose Bowl win 9-0 over UCLA and national championship in 1942 was one for the ages.
It would be another 40-some-odd years before Vince, Herschel, Buck, Lindsey and the boys took UGA to the mountain top with the great run beginning with the 1980 national championship win over Notre Dame. Throw in the great games that year with South Carolina and above all Florida and it was a year like no other.
Fast forward to 2015 and enter one Mr. Kirby Smart. Since then, Georgia has been arguably the best college football team in the country.
Into this growing dynasty walks one Jack Podlesny in 2018. And he literally walks in as a walk on.
Coming from Glynn Academy, Jack Podlesny was a known commodity. He had hit 9 out of 10 field goals and 49-51 PATs. He was an all-region soccer player and had great technique. He had offers from Michigan, Georgia Tech and others but chose instead to walk on at the University of Georgia.
Georgia at the time was having a bromance with Rodrigo Blankenship. He was Georgia’s kicker and one of the most popular players on the team, and around the nation. It was hard not to love “Hot Rod” and those horn-rimmed glasses, but his time ran out at Georgia. It was time to find another kicker.
Enter Jack Podlesny. The young kicker redshirted and learned in 2018, backed up Blankenship in 2019, and then the next year won the starting job in preseason and responded by going 13-16 on field goals and nailing all 38 extra points.
It earned him a spot as a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. Who can forget the Peach Bowl and young Jack walking on the field to try a 53-yard game winning field goal with SEVEN seconds left on the clock. The ball is snapped, put down and the national announcer goes…… THERE IT IS…………………. GOT IT!!!! Jack was 3-3 on Field goals in the game and named the Offensive Player of the Game.
Podlesny would go on to be one of the greatest kickers in University of Georgia history. Kevin Butler, Rex Robinson, Blair Walsh, Billy Bennett, Rodrigo Blankenship…. All great players. And yet none have the trophy case that Jack Podlesny has. Two national championship rings, SEC special teams player of the year 2022, first team All SEC 2022, etc etc etc.
By the end of the 2022 season “Hot Pod” would go on to set numerous records including most points scored in a season at UGA. He would light it up for 151 points in 2022 and have the second most points 137 in 2021. He stands second in career field goal percentage to his mentor Blankenship at 82.47 for “Rod” and 82.43 for “Pod”.
While Jack is now with the Green Bay Packers, he recently received another honor that I’m sure he will cherish. UGA Sports just started counting down to the 2024 season by naming the greatest players in Georgia football history by descending numbers worn 99 to 0.
With number 96 worn by Jack Podlesny. A scrawny kid from St Simons, GA who grew up playing youth soccer on Jekyll then football at Glynn Academy.
The best football player in University of Georgia History to wear Number 96.
Living Legend
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s spring time! And while the Glynn Academy Red Terrors rack up win after win on the courts, the pitch, and the track. Let’s take a look at the numero uno Head man of the Glynn Academy football program. That’s Rocky Hidalgo.
Rocky came to Glynn in 2014. He inherited a program that while being competitive was also very tired.
Rob Ridings’ 10-year reign from 2004 to 2013 had stabilized the program. But the ‘my way or the highway’ regiment grew old to many. That included fans, boosters, coaches, players, and the administration.
By 2013 the writing was on the wall and ole Rob hit the road. The good thing about this was that the Glynn people had time to really look around and get a great, young, qualified coach. And that’s exactly what they did.
Enter one mister Rocky Hidalgo from Walton High School in Marietta.
Over a 5 year stretch from 2009 to 2013 Walton had won 40 games while losing only 18. This was also in the uber competitive North Atlanta area.
Could he bring his magic to a Glynn program that desperately needed leadership? Well, the proof is in the pudding. Glynn got the right guy.
As Rocky enters his second decade on the southside, Glynn has become a solid winning program. No, they haven’t won state…yet.
But they’ve come about as close as you can, losing in a great State Championship game in only his second year. Glynn fell to Allatoona 10-6 at the Georgia Dome. Add in a final four appearance in 2017 with a 4-point loss to eventual state champion Lee County and you get the idea. Glynn Academy football is in good hands.
To understand how positive this coach and staff have been. Take this into consideration. Rocky Hidalgo has won 81 games in 10 years at Glynn. He won 40 games in 5 years at Walton. As it sits right now, he is the second winningest coach in Red Terror history, which goes back to before World War 1.
He trails only the great C.M. Page who won 108 games over an 18-year span in the 40’s and 50’s. Add in Rockys’ 4 region championships in 10 years. Wow.
The results have come with some great players who have been committed to the program and the school. Rocky couldn’t win all those games and go deep into the playoffs without guys like Peyton Parker, David Prince, Greg Peacock, DeeJay Dallas, Garrison Heard, Kendall Cross, Randon Jernigan, Jack Podlesney, and on and on. Guys that were all dedicated to the program and committed to a winning tradition built by Coach Rocky Hidalgo.
Oh, and Glynn’s record against Brunswick during Rockys time with the Terrors is 7-3. Just wanted to be clear on that!
With the Terrors coming off of an 8-3 campaign in 2023, look for great things as the Red Terrors head into 2024 under the Rock!
The 5th Major
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The 2024 Players Championship at Sawgrass will go down as one of the best and most exciting golf tournaments in its 50-year history.
It will also go down as the first TPC with a back-to-back champion. Scottie Scheffler blistered the Sawgrass course on Sunday going out in 31 on the front nine and vaulting into contention.
He then ripped the back nine with three more birdies to card an unbelievable final round 64 and take home the 4.5 million dollar first place prize. He navigated the final round bogey free and came from way back. Scheffler showed why he’s currently the number one ranked player in the world.
Blessed with great weather on the weekend, the TPC Sawgrass course was on point. Great crowds, great golf and a great finish, the tournament was just outstanding.
From the drama of the 17th hole to the fantastic finish with three golfers trying to find a birdie on 18 to catch Scheffler, it was golf at its best.
Round one began with Rory Mcllroy, Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark all dropping 65s on the stadium course.
From day one this was going to be a battle of the heavyweights. Scheffler and RSM winner Ludvig Aberg were two shots back.
Round two at Sawgrass was the Wyndham Clark show. After shooting a 65 in the first round, Clark showed out with another 65 to take a 4-stroke lead into the weekend.
The 2023 U.S. Open winner was on top of his game and looked smooth and confident heading into the weekend. Four shots back were Nick Taylor and Xander Schauffele.
Saturday was moving day at the Players and it did not disappoint.
The 4 shot lead that Wyndham Clark carried into the round disappeared as Xander Schauffele took a one-shot lead into Sunday with Clark right behind him one shot off the pace. Brian Harman followed at 15 under while eventual winner Scottie Scheffler was a full 5 shots back.
Notables were Rory Mcllroy at -9 along with Ludvig Aberg. With 7 golfers within 5 shots of the lead, Sunday was shaping up to be a great day for the Players Championship. And boy oh boy it didn’t disappoint.
Sunday at the Players was a day to remember. With a beautiful spring day in northeast Florida with temps around 80 and a very manageable breeze, the stage was set for some great golf.
Scottie Scheffler began the day 5 shots back and after 3 straight pars, the man found his groove. After his iron shot at the fourth found the hole for an eagle and his putter dropped a long birdies on the fifth and the eighth, he found himself in contention only one shot back. Another putt at the ninth leading to a front nine 31 and he was tied.
But Schauffele, Harman, and Clark weren’t going anywhere and it was game on for one of the most exciting nine holes of golf in TPC history.
Clark began with a bogey on the 10th that dropped him 2 shots back of Schauffele and Scheffler.
Harman sat at -17 two back. By the twelfth all four golfers were within a shot of each other. As they dueled over the next 4 holes, Scheffler went one up and finished first at -20. His 67, 69, 68, 64 set the bar.
Could the three amigos catch him with 2 holes to play?
What followed was Sunday PGA golf at its best. Schauffele came off 2 bogies to birdie 16. That put him one back with 2 to play.
He would hit a beautiful shot within 10 feet on 17 only to watch his putt and a chance to tie slide by the hole.
Wyndham Clark was next at the island hole with a beautiful approach shot within 5 feet. He knocked it down to get within one.
To the 18th we went with the tournament in the balance. Harman would put it on the green at 18 only to watch his putt slide by and finish one back.
Next Schauffele would miss right and have a long birdie miss. He would finish one back also.
Clark coming off the birdie at 17 would hit a great second into the 18th green. With a chance to tie Scheffler, he hit a putt that will be replayed for years to come. From about 15 feet the putt was perfect. Within 2 feet it slightly slides to the left and then lipped in and out of the hole coming to rest back toward Clark. No one could believe it didn’t drop.
It was a heartbreaker but a fitting end to a Players that will be talked about for years.
Scottie Scheffler takes his second tournament win in a row and his second Players in a row with a come from behind win being 7 shots back at one time on Saturday.
Great golf, great crowds, great finish, and a great tournament.
The SEC Mine Field
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
This year for the first time ever in college football we have a new piece to the equation. That’s the new 12 team playoff scenario.
Many across the country felt that Georgia was the best team in the country in 2023. And that was after the Michigan Wolverines spanked the Washington Huskies in the NCAA National Championship game.
But they picked a bad time to play a very average game and lost the SEC championship to old nemesis Alabama 27-24. With the 4-team playoff in place all Georgia could say was woulda, coulda, shoulda.
Well hopefully this new format will give a more rounded playoff and throw a little more excitement into it. Let’s take a way too early look at the SEC contenders for a spot in the 2024 playoffs.
ALABAMA: The biggest news in college football this year was Nick Saban heading off into the sunset.
In comes Washington Huskies Kalen DeBoer to lead the Crimson Tide. Offensively the Tide return Jalen Milroe, who came on at the end of the season and was instrumental in the upset of then #1 Georgia.
Add in budding star Justice Haynes at RB and a solid returning O-line with experience and the Tide could be tough on Offense. Losing Isiah Bond and Amari Niblack to the portal won’t help though.
The defense was wrecked by the NFL draft, the portal, and the coaching change. While they ranked 17th in the country giving up only 19 PPG in 2023, 2024 could be a different story. Bama’s season will rest on the D.
GEORGIA: While Dawg nation had all the respect in the world for Nick Saban, they are damn glad he’s gone.
Playing a sub-par game when it counted, the Dawgs fell 27-24 to the Tide in the SEC championship and missed a chance at a 3-peat.
Well, the Dawgs are back and reloaded for 2024.
Back is Carson Beck, who threw for 22 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. He has first round NFL written all over him.
The RBs should be one of the best in the country with the addition of Trevor Etienne. Add in a massive, talented O-line and a very good returning receiving corp and the Dawgs are loaded on offense.
Defensively, the Dawgs return starters and experience throughout. Nazir Stackhouse, Mykel Williams, Smael Mondon, Daylen Everett, and Malaki Starks all return.
There is talent, speed and experience and the defense should be solid.
Add in a great placekicker in Peyton Woodring and the Dawgs are ready for run. The #1 recruiting class this year won’t hurt either.
TEXAS: Welcome to the SEC, Texas!
The Longhorns bring a great winning tradition, a rabid fanbase and a loaded experienced outfit to the SEC in 2024.
Texas returns Quinn Evers at QB and 4 of 5 starters on the O-line. That’s 2 major pieces to the puzzle in the rugged SEC.
The WR room has been bolstered by the addition of Matthew Golden and Silas Bolden from the portal. Add in Isiah Bond from Alabama and this could be a team strength.
On the defensive side the Horns will miss T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II.
They do have returning experience and starters throughout the defense and should be solid. This will be a very good football team in 2024.
How they deal with the week-in week-out physicality of the SEC will be fun to watch.
So, those are the three top dogs in the SEC for 2024? But there is a sleeper or two.
OLE MISS: Nobody likes the Portal as much as Lane Kiffin.
And so far in 2024 the Rebs have added 17.
Ole Miss returns Jaxson Dart at QB and he leads an offense that is flat loaded.
The O-line is experienced and SEC proven and includes Jeremy James, a two-year starter who grew up in Brunswick and played for our U-12 all-stars, the Broncos. Great kid and family.
Add in a great group of WRs for Dart to connect with and the Rebels will be formidable on offense.
Defensively Pete Golding likes to rotate, rotate, then rotate players. That leads to a lot of experience on that side of the ball. Add in the portal additions and the Rebels will be improved on D in 2024.
LSU: You’ve got to hand it to Brian Kelly, the dude can coach football.
He brings a squad to the table that on any given day can beat any of the above.
Offensively, look for Garrett Nussmeier to have a great year. The second-string gunslinger from 2023 will lead the Tigers in 2024 and he is one of the better QBs in the league right NOW.
The O-line is physical and returns 4 starters.
The defense is experienced and returns players throughout the lineup. Add in Harold Perkins, one of the most electric defensive players in the nation and LSU is loaded. You better bring you’re A game with these guys.
The SEC is going to be fantastic in 2024. We could very easily see 3 teams in the 12-team playoff.
Don’t sleep on Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oklahoma. I just hope we haven’t beaten ourselves to death by playoff time.
The Portal
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
As the Bulldawg nation slides into 2024 there is so much to look forward to.
The past few years have firmly stationed Kirby Smart as one of the best college football coaches in the country. Probably THE BEST with the recent retirement of the GOAT, Nick Saban from Alabama.
And while Kirby prefers to build his Dawgs through the traditional means of recruitment of the best high school players throughout the country, he is also dealing with the here and now, and that means NIL and the Portal.
The Dawgs have used the Portal in the past to great success.
Players such as Derion Kendrick, Lawrence Cager, Tre McKitty, J.T. Daniels, Tykee Smith, Dominic Lovett, and Ra Ra Thomas all found their way to Athens through the Portal.
In 2024 the Bulldogs will welcome several pieces to the puzzle in Trevor Etienne the great RB from the lousy stinking Gators, Colbie Young a 6’5” WR from Miami, and Xzavier McLeod a highly recruited 325 lb defensive lineman from the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Add in London Humphreys, a speedy WR from Vanderbilt, who reminds me of our own great Ladd McConkey, and Jake Pope a former 4-star DB from Alabama and the Dawgs got just what they needed.
And while the portal giveth………. The portal also taketh away. If you put all the former Georgia players who have left the program in the Kirby era on one team, that team would compete for a national championship. Think I’m kidding? Check out this list.
QBs…………………… Justin Fields, JT Daniels, Brock Vandagriff
RBs……………………. Sevaughn Clark
WRs and TEs………. Demetris Robertson, Arik Gilbert, Dom Blaylock, AD Mitchell, Luke Ford, Matt Landers, Jermaine Burton, Justin Robinson. Brett Seither, Mekhi Mews
O-line………………….. Clay Webb, Cade Mays, Jacob Hood, Joshua Miller, Aliou Bah, Austin Blaske
D-line………………….. Bear Alexander, Marvin Jones Jr., Jonathan Jefferson, Brenton Cox, Jermaine Johnson, Bill Norton
LBs…………………….. Trezmen Marshall, C. J. Madden, Darris Smith, Xavian Sorey, Jamon Dumas-Johnson,
DBs…………………….. Latavious Brini, Jalen Kimber, Ameer Speed, Major Burns, Otis Reese, Jaheim Singletary, A.J. Harris, Nyland Green
Heck let’s just throw in a kicker also………… Jared Zirkel
And I won’t even get into the coaches! Fran Brown, Dan Lanning etc etc.
It’s amazing how much talent has gone in and out of Athens in the last few years.
While some will pine for the good old days when high school recruiting was the end all be all, the NIL and portal are here to stay. It will always be fluctuating as players seek greener pastures for numerous reasons whether it be money, playing time, coaching changes, grades, etc etc.
Georgia will win some and lose some just like the Caleb Downs sweepstakes. But through it all, Kirby and the Dawgs will continue their recent run of success.
Why will the Dawgs continue to win? Because they are being built to last. Look at that list above. It’s incredible the amount of talent that has left Athens.
But the kicker is that the Dawgs will bring in the #1 ranked recruiting class in the nation again this year. And with Nick cooling his jets at his new multimillion dollar pad in Florida, the one guy that could recruit with Kirby is now sipping a pina colada.
Its next man up in Athens and the next man might be better than the one he is replacing.
Yes, the Portal and NIL will continue to affect college football in ways we haven’t seen before. The combination of recruiting number one and the portal use as needed is what will keep the Dawgs on top………… You don’t believe me………just watch!
