Southern Sports Edition
Out Of A Legend’s Shadow?
By: Robert Craft
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Kalen DeBoer may have a long way to go to step out of Nick Saban’s shadow, but he is now guaranteed to surpass Saban in one area: Salary.
Alabama gave DeBoer a seven-year contract extension that will pay the coach $12.5 million this year.
That’s more than the $11.1 million Saban earned during his final season in 2023 — when he was the highest-paid coach in college football.
DeBoer’s first two seasons have led to some angst in the Alabama fan base and talk of a hot seat.
Athletic director Greg Byrne’s contract extension seeks to quiet that talk: DeBoer’s previous contract called for Alabama to owe him 90 percent of the remaining value of the contract if it fired him without cause.
Assuming that remains the case for this contract, Bryne is doubling down on his belief that DeBoer is the right man for the job.
DeBoer, 51, was hired to replace the retired Saban and earned $10.8 million in his first season, with his contract calling for raises of $125,000 per year through 2031.
Alabama’s first two seasons under DeBoer have been modestly successful: 9-4 his first season, missing the College Football Playoff; 11-4 his second season, making the CFP quarterfinals, where the Crimson Tide lost to eventual champion Indiana.
Saban coached Alabama to six national championships, most recently during the 2020 season, and in his final season had the Crimson Tide in the CFP semifinals, the final year of the four-team playoff.
When he retired, Byrne went outside the Saban coaching tree and the Alabama family to hire DeBoer, who had just coached Washington to the national championship game.
DeBoer’s new contract takes him through the end of the 2032 season, ending on Jan. 31, 2033.
“We are pleased to extend Coach DeBoer and are proud to have him leading the Crimson Tide football program,” Byrne said in a statement. “He is an excellent coach and has done a commendable job developing our student-athletes.”
Alabama hauled in the nation’s No. 2-ranked high school recruiting class for the 2026 cycle, continuing in the Saban tradition.
But the Crimson Tide also lost key pieces in the transfer portal, and the portal class did not rank among the top 25 in rankings.
DeBoer said in late January that he expected his team to be relatively young again, perhaps setting the expectations a bit lower once more.
Now he has a new contract that would seem to give him more leeway, though Alabama, like any SEC school, isn’t exactly hurting for money.
“This University has become a special place to us, and I look forward to working to ensure that Alabama football remains at the forefront of college football,” DeBoer said in a statement. “This program has a long history of success and an unmatched tradition that I was eager to be a part of two years ago, and I cannot wait to keep coaching our guys and bring more championships to Alabama.”
Alabama also announced a contract extension for men’s basketball coach Nate Oats, also through the end of the 2031-32 season.
Oats’ previous deal was set to expire after the 2029-30 season and pay him $6.02 million this year. His salary was increased to $6.275 million this year, with gradual increases to $7.25 million by the end of the deal.
Oats, 51, has led Alabama to five Sweet 16 appearances since being hired in 2019, including a Final Four two years ago.
Rising Up?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
First year for the new regime for the Atlanta Falcons hit the first landmark with the NFL Draft this past weekend.
Ian Cunningham as the GM spearheaded his first draft week in line with new Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and Director of Football Matt Ryan and made an impact especially on the defensive side of the ball.
After the deal last season to trade up and pick Michael Penix Jr, the Falcons didn’t have a first-round pick in 2026, so the Birds didn’t make a selection until the 48th overall pick in the 2nd round.
The Falcons went to the ACC for their first selection with a cornerback from Clemson and kept the football in the family. Avieon Terrell, younger brother of current Falcons DB AJ Terrell, became the newest Falcon after 3 years with Clemson, including an All-ACC season last year for the Tigers.
In 2025, Terrell had a nose for football forcing a Clemson single season record 5 forced fumbles to go along with 9 pass breakups, 4.5 TFLs and 3 sacks. There are questions where Terrell will land if he stays at corner or comes inside at safety but could be an impactful piece for the Falcons in the fall.
In the 3rd round, Atlanta kept it close to home with pulling Georgia receiver Zachariah Branch off the board.
Branch molded into a slot receiver who can turn a medial gain into an explosive play with his speed in his time in Athens. Branch brings a multitude of weapons to the NFL both as a receiver but also on special teams as a kick/punt returner. There is some fine tuning of routes and mechanics that NFL scouts have pointed out, but Branch expects to contribute early for the Falcons.
The page turned to the 4th round and the Falcons had pick number 134. With that 4th round selection, Atlanta turned to Oklahoma to snag former Sooner linebacker Kendal Daniels.
Daniels converted from safety to linebacker in his time at Oklahoma and earned a reputation in the SEC as being able to use his speed to fill the gap in run defense. After 4 seasons at Oklahoma State, Daniels moved to Norman and racked up 9 TFLs in 13 starts in the middle of the Sooner defense.
Without a selection in the 5th round, the Falcons made a move to pick up an extra 6th round selection.
With the first 6th round pick, the Falcons looked to beef up the defensive line that made a huge step forward in 2025 and added Washington D-Lineman Anterio Thompson.
Thompson spent his time at Washington as a defensive tackle on the interior of the D-line, but may see a move to the edge in the NFL. The leaps that Thompson has made in his time in college profiles him to be able to do it.
What, in my opinion, could be most impactful pick for the Falcons in 2026 when it’s all said and done came with the second 6th round pick when the ATL called upon the LSU Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. Perkins missed all of 2024 with an ACL tear but was the key to the LSU success in his time in Baton Rouge.
The Falcons wrapped up the draft with their 7th round pick and the 231st overall selection of O-lineman Ethan Onianwa from Ohio State. The 6’6” 333 pounder tackle looks to give depth to the Falcons O-Line and progress under leadership and experience of Jake Matthews on the Falcons’ front.
While there’s not the first round, high profile talent in the draft class, but an extremely solid class that could prove to be impactful in the near future as a whole for the ATL.
Welcome To Duuuuval
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
When the Jacksonville Jaguars walked into the 2026 NFL Draft, they were already operating under a different set of circumstances than most teams.
For the first time in franchise history, Jacksonville didn’t have a first round pick.
But that wasn’t an accident. That pick had already been spent a year earlier in a deal with the Cleveland Browns that helped the Jaguars land one of the most electric young players in football, Travis Hunter, with the second overall pick in 2025.
So, when you look at Jacksonville’s 2026 draft, you can’t judge it the same way you judge most draft classes.
There wasn’t going to be a splashy headline pick. Instead, this draft was about building the roster out and giving quarterback Trevor Lawrence more help. And honestly, that’s exactly what the Jaguars tried to do.
Jacksonville started in the second round by selecting Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher. That pick makes a lot of sense when you think about what this offense needs.
For years, the Jaguars have been trying to get more production out of the tight end position, and Boerkircher brings a nice mix of pass catching ability and blocking. In other words, he’s the kind of player who can stay on the field for all three downs.
Then in the third round, Jacksonville went back to Texas A&M again and grabbed defensive tackle Albert Regis. This one felt like a classic “get bigger and tougher” type of pick.
The Jaguars have had stretches where they struggled to control the line of scrimmage, especially against the run, and Regis adds some muscle inside.
But if there’s a pick Jaguars fans should really pay attention to, it might be offensive lineman Emmanuel Pregnon from Oregon.
If this franchise is serious about getting the most out of Trevor Lawrence, protecting him has to be priority number one. Pregnon brings versatility along the offensive line, and depth up front is never a bad thing in the NFL.
The Jaguars kept addressing needs later in the third round when they selected Maryland defensive back Jalen Huskey, a guy who picked off four passes last season. Jacksonville has clearly been trying to add more playmakers in the secondary, and Huskey fits that mold.
Once day three rolled around, the Jaguars shifted into what you might call roster building mode. They even traded up in the fourth round to grab Duke edge rusher Wesley Williams, which tells you he was a player they specifically wanted.
The rest of the class added more depth across the board. Houston tight end Tanner Koziol, Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron, Stanford receiver CJ Williams, Washington edge rusher Zach Durfee, and linebacker Parker Hughes out of Middle Tennessee State.
Now let’s be honest. None of those picks are going to dominate the national headlines.
That’s just the reality when you don’t have a first round pick.
But here’s the thing Jaguars fans should remember. A lot of really good NFL teams are built on day two and day three of the draft.
You don’t always need the flashy pick. Sometimes what you really need are solid players who fill roles, compete for snaps, and develop over time. And that’s what Jacksonville seems to be aiming for here.
This draft felt less like a blockbuster and more like a roster tune up. Add a weapon for Trevor Lawrence. Strengthen the offensive line. Get bigger up front on defense. Bring in competition at receiver and in the secondary.
It might not be the kind of draft that gets fans jumping out of their seats right now.
But if even a few of these players turn into reliable contributors, the Jaguars might look back a couple of years from now and realize this class quietly helped push the team forward.
Flying To New Heights?
By: Colin Lacy
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
For the first time since the 2022-23 season, the Atlanta Hawks have marched into the postseason as the 6-seed in the Eastern Conference side of the NBA Playoffs bracket.
The Hawks finished the regular season with a 46-36 overall record and with a late push in the second half of the season propelled their way to the South Division title finishing with a 20-6 record after the All-Star Break.
As odd as it sounds, the shift in the season came when the Hawks traded away All-Star Trae Young in the first half of the year, but the team molded together.
Thanks in part to emerging stars CJ McCollum & Nickeil Alexander-Walker along with a commitment to the defensive side of the ball, the Hawks found the secret sauce in the ATL.
Now don’t get me wrong, one of (if not the single) headlines for Atlanta was Jalen Johnson who paced the team with 22.5 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and just shy of 8 assists per game in his first All-Star selection year.
As much as defense can be optional at times in the NBA, that wasn’t the case for Atlanta this year. Led by Dyson Daniels, the Hawks turned in a top 10 defensive rating this season.
In the Opening round of the NBA Playoffs, the Hawks drew the 3-seeded New York Knicks who finished the season 53-29 and secured the home court advantage in the opening round.
Game one of the series at Madison Square Garden went the way of the Knicks who leaned on the back of Jalen Brunson who scored 28 points along with Karl-Anthony Towns who helped seal the game with 19 of his 25 points coming in the second half of the game.
The second game of the series from “the Garden” came with dramatics. The Knicks led by 12 after three quarters, but the Hawks chipped back until taking a lead with 2:09 to play at 101-100.
A back-and-forth affair the last 2 minutes of the game traded baskets until Jalen Johnson slammed one home with 10 seconds left to make the game 107-103 Hawks.
Brunson would knock down a 3 to cut it to a 1-point game. The Knicks fouled CJ McCollum (who finished with 32 points on the night) with 6 seconds remaining.
As McCollum tried to ice the game at the line, he would end up missing both free throws. The Hawks would be able to take a sigh of relief as a Knicks’ fadeaway jumper would miss and give the Hawks the win and even the series at one each with the 107-106 final.
The series would come home to the ATL for game three on, but the dramatics would make the plane flight too. CJ McCollum once again found the ball in his hand at the end and would connect.
After the Hawks led by as many as 18 in the first half, the Knicks rallied to take the lead 108-105 with 1:03 remaining, but a few possessions later with 12.5 seconds left, CJ McCollum hit a 15-foot fadeaway to put the Hawks back on top and secure the Game 3 win 109-108.
Game four in Atlanta would swing the pendulum back in the way of New York with a 114-98 Knicks win. The Knicks would lead virtually the entire game thanks in large part to Karl-Anthony Towns finishing with a triple-double (20pts/10reb/10ast) to knot the series at 2 games apiece and send the series back to New York for Game 5.
The Hawks haven’t advanced past the Opening Round of the NBA Playoffs since the 2020-21 season but will rely on Jalen Johnson and CJ McCollum to try to change that in 2026 with a couple road wins at Madison Square Garden.
The Jason Bishop Show April 24 2026
Natty Or Bust?
By: Joe Delaney
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Well, spring is here and one of the most beautiful places in the state is Athens. With a temperature in the 70’s and the azaleas busting out everywhere, Athens is hard to beat.
Throw in a couple tickets I had to see the Tennis Dawgs take out South Carolina on a Friday night and the Baseball Dawgs do the same the next day to those Florida Gators and well, it’s just special.
At that same time, we got glimpses of the 2026 Football Dawgs as they were hard into spring practice.
The general consensus was that the football Dawgs could be very special this year. VERY special.
The next week was the spring game and after seeing it, I can see why. These Dawgs are tight. They have leadership, athleticism, depth, and a hunger to go back to the top.
From Kirby on down, these guys want all the marbles in 2026. The great Georgia guru Rusty Mansell put it out there. Georgia has “a roster built to play for a national championship”.
Are they as loaded as the back-to-back National Champions of a couple years back? Maybe not, but they might be just as good. Let’s take a look.
It starts with the top. Georgia has Kirby. The Dawgs also have one of the best overall staffs in the country. Throw in an administration and athletic director that are all on the same page and few programs in the country can match the Red and Black.
On the field it all starts with the QB, and Georgia has a good one in Gunner Stockton. While he might not be as flashy as some, he has that something that his teammates love; grit, determination, and a will to win.
With his experience running this offense, he is one of the top returning signal callers in the country. Behind him are 4 others with Ryan Puglisi currently number 2. Watch out for upcoming Ryan Montgomery who is pushing up the depth chart. The key to these guys is keeping Gunner healthy.
The backs will be very good, led by Nate Frazier. Throw in Chauncey Bowens, the electric Dwight Phillips and a couple of highly touted youngsters and Georgia will run the ball. And look out for Dante Dowdell, a transfer with speed, size and experience. His 20 something yard run while hurdling a defender was one of the spring game highlights.
Next are the wide receivers and tight ends. The wideouts will be bolstered by transfer Isiah Canion, and have talent all over with returners Landon Humphreys, C J Wiley, Talyn Taylor and newcomer Kaiden Prothro a 6’ 6” 230 lb 5-star freshman who starred in the spring game.
This group should be solid especially when paired with the best tight end group in the country. Between Lawson Luckie, Elyiss Williams, Ethan Barbour, and Jaden Reddell, the only problem will be how to get them all on the field.
Reddell showed out in the spring game and there are 2 or 3 others behind these guys. Like I said, this is the best TE group in the country. Look for the Dawgs to run some 3 or 4 TE sets with 1 running back.
None of the above means a thing if the O-line can’t do its thing but Georgia should be deep and very good on the line.
Drew Bobo will anchor the O-line at center. Add in returning starters Dontrell Glover, Juan Gaston, Earnest Green and it will be solid. Oh, and don’t forget newcomers Zykie Helton, and Jah Jackson, all 6’10” 350 lbs of him. This offense will have a hundred different ways to score and should be lethal.
Defensively the Dawgs will be loaded with returning starters all over the place. The D-Line will be big, deep, and athletic with plenty of experience.
Josh Horton, Xzavier Mcleod, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nnamdi Ogboko all return and are back along with Elijah Griffin who has All-American written all over him. There is depth there also.
What the TE’s bring to the offense the LB’s are to the Georgia defense.
Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams, Chris Cole, and Gabe Harris make this group elite and remember the Name Chase Linton. Look for him this fall. There is also depth behind these guys with Nick Abrams, Zayden Walker and others..
The DB’s should be solid with returners Ellis Robinson IV, K J Bolden, Demello Jones, Rasean Dinkins, Kyron Jones, and transfers Braylon Conley, Khalil, and Gentry Williams.
The kicking is in good hands with Peyton Woodring although the punting cannot match the loss of thunderfoot Brett Thorson.
The special teams should be very good with a host of players vying for playing time to get on the field and impress.
All and all this is a loaded football team. Big, fast, physical with depth all over.
To me the keys to a run at the Natty are things that need to be improved on from a 12-2 team in 2025.
First is rush the passer, Georgia was lacking in this last year and the injury to transfer Amaris Williams during the spring didn’t help. That’s priority number one.
Next is, keep Gunner healthy. While there is quality behind him, Gunner is the man.
And last is get a little luck. This team can beat any team in the country if they are on. But they are not the 21 or 22 outfits. They’ll need a little luck here and there. If those three keys come to fruition, I like our chances.
I Am Iron Man
By: Michael Spiers
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
In today’s sports world, we hear a lot about rest days, fatigue management, and carefully monitored workloads. Teams track every swing, every step, and every strain on a player’s body.
And then there’s Matt Olson, who seems to live by a much simpler philosophy.
Just show up and play.
The Atlanta Braves first baseman has quietly built one of the most impressive durability streaks in modern baseball. Olson has now played in more than 800 consecutive games, putting him among the longest streaks this century and creeping closer to the top ten all time.
For Braves fans, that number means something. Baseball is a grind. It’s 162 games spread over six months with very few days off.
Most players miss time somewhere along the way. Something usually pops up, like a sore hamstring, a tight back, a scheduled rest day. Olson just keeps playing.
He’s not chasing Cal Ripken Jr.’s legendary 2,632 game streak. No one realistically expects that record to fall anytime soon.
But Olson’s run still stands out because it’s happening in an era where teams are more cautious than ever about protecting players’ bodies.
And the thing Braves fans appreciate most is that Olson isn’t just showing up to keep the streak alive. He’s producing.
Everyone remembers the 54 home run season in 2023, when Olson crushed baseballs all summer and drove in 139 runs.
But even in the seasons around it, he’s been incredibly steady. Nearly 30 home runs. Around 100 RBIs. Extra base hits piling up all over the place. Night after night, the Braves know what they’re getting.
But Olson’s value goes way beyond the batter’s box. If you watch closely, you’ll notice how many throws he digs out of the dirt at first base. His size and reach turn bad throws into outs.
It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t always show up on highlight reels, but it saves runs and wins games over the course of a long season.
The funny part is Olson doesn’t make any of this sound complicated. He’s not the type who talks about extreme diets or crazy recovery routines. There’s no dramatic training method being marketed here. He just sticks to his routine, keeps himself in shape, and gets ready to play again the next day.
That mindset fits perfectly with the culture the Braves have built over the years. Atlanta has always valued players who take pride in being available. Austin Riley has been the same way, rarely missing games over the past several seasons.
The Braves lineup is usually the same group of guys every night, and that consistency matters. Baseball teams thrive on rhythm. Players get comfortable hitting around the same teammates, fielders learn each other’s tendencies, and the clubhouse builds trust.
Matt Olson has become one of the anchors of that environment and he understands what it means to wear a Braves uniform.
Olson grew up around Atlanta and watched the organization during its run of division titles when he was a kid. He knows the expectations that come with being part of this franchise.
And one of those expectations has always been simple. Be ready to play.
Eventually every streak comes to an end. Baseball has a way of reminding everyone that nothing lasts forever. But right now, Matt Olson keeps doing something that feels almost old school.
He shows up. He plays hard. And the next day, he does it all over again.
For us Braves fans, that kind of reliability is something worth appreciating every single night when the lineup card comes out.
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?
