NIL
Hinds Wins 400 Hurdles, Wildcats Have Strong Showing on Day Three
DES MOINES, Iowa – The K-State track and field teams had a winner on the third day of the Drake Relays on Friday (April 25) at Drake Stadium along with multiple top-five performances. The last day of competition can be streamed on RunnerSpace with a subscription. Single session tickets for Saturday can purchased for $43. Junior […]


DES MOINES, Iowa – The K-State track and field teams had a winner on the third day of the Drake Relays on Friday (April 25) at Drake Stadium along with multiple top-five performances. The last day of competition can be streamed on RunnerSpace with a subscription. Single session tickets for Saturday can purchased for $43.
Junior Safhia Hinds won the women’s 400 meter hurdles university race in 58.04 seconds, her second win in the event this season. Senior Ludivine Aubert finished in 4th place in her fastest time of 59.68 seconds. In the same race, junior Delaney Wright also recorded a new best in 1:01.80 in 12th place.
In the men’s 400 meter hurdles, freshman Thomas Canivet finished runner-up in 51.48 seconds, his best time and the new no. 8 time in the K-State all-time top-10. Freshman Tavon Underwood also finished runner-up on the track, running his fastest 400 meter dash in 46.44 seconds in the university race. That time is now no. 10 in the K-State outdoor records.
One Wildcat ran a qualifying time in the first round– sophomore Mikah Scott finished 5th in 11.65 seconds in the women’s 100 meter dash university first round and will race in the final round on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.
Four throwers competed in the championship section of their respective event— senior Jaycee Schroeder finished 4th in the women’s shot put with her best throw of the season at 16.39m (53′ 9 ¼”). Fellow senior Grace Thompson competed in the same event, taking 8th place at a distance of 14.39m (47′ 2 ½”).
Throwing the discus, junior Nate Collier took 7th place in the men’s event with a throw of 53.47m (175′ 5″). Junior Tamaiah Koonce competed in the women’s event, also finishing 7th with a distance of 46.39m (152′ 2″).
Junior Claire Bybee tied for 3rd place in the women’s pole vault university event, clearing a height of 3.82m (12′ 6 ¼”).
Senior James Ezeonu ran in the 110 meter hurdles preliminaries, finishing with a time of 14.56 in the university race.
The Wildcats wrap up the Drake Relays on Saturday (April 26) at 10:15 a.m. with Brooklyn Jones in the women’s javelin throw university section.
Drake Relays
Drake Stadium
Des Moines, Iowa
Men’s 110 Meter Hurdles (University Prelims)
22. James Ezeonu, 14.56 (1.3)
Women’s 100 Meters (University Prelims)
5. Mikah Scott, 11.65 (3.8)
Women’s 400 Meter Hurdles (University Finals)
1. Safhia Hinds, 58.04
4. Ludivine Aubert, 59.68 (PR)
12. Delaney Wright, 1:01.80 (PR)
Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles (University Finals)
2. Thomas Canivet, 51.48 (PR)
Women’s Pole Vault (University)
T3. Claire Bybee, 3.82m (12′ 6 ¼”)
Women’s Discus Throw (Championship)
7. Tamaiah Koonce, 46.39m (152′ 2″)
Men’s 400 Meters (University Finals)
2. Tavon Underwood, 46.439 (PR)
Women’s Shot Put (Championship)
4. Jaycee Schroeder, 16.39m (53′ 9 ¼”)
8. Grace Thompson, 14.39m (47′ 2 ½”)
Men’s Discus Throw (Championship)
7. Nate Collier, 53.47m (175′ 5″)
— k-statesports.com —
How to follow the ‘Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team’s social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
NIL
Clemson baseball adds veteran left-handed reliever with SEC experience
Clemson baseball got a little better on Saturday night. Pitching had been a major concern for the Tigers throughout the 2025 season and it led to multiple tough losses, but they have addressed some needs in the portal thanks to head coach Erik Bakich. Bakich has landed numerous big bats from the portal, but on […]

Clemson baseball got a little better on Saturday night.
Pitching had been a major concern for the Tigers throughout the 2025 season and it led to multiple tough losses, but they have addressed some needs in the portal thanks to head coach Erik Bakich.
Bakich has landed numerous big bats from the portal, but on Saturday, he picked up a commitment from 23-year-old left-handed reliever Michael Sharman. He previously spent time with Tennessee before starting 16 games with Georgia Highlands in the JUCO in 2024 with 101 strikeouts in 92.2 innings, per Jon Blau.
Clemson adds a 23-year-old lefty reliever from Tennessee.
Before pitching for the Vols last season, Sharman started 16 games for JUCO Georgia Highlands in 2024 and registered 101 Ks in 93 2/3 innings. https://t.co/OQtWl0btuT
— Jon Blau (@Jon_Blau) June 29, 2025
This is a nice get for the Tigers who need all the pitching help they can get. Sharman has plenty of experience at the age of 23 and it’s especially reassuring that he spent time with one of the bigger baseball powers in the SEC.
When he was with Tennessee, he had a 3.18 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 22.2 innings.
Clemson is quietly building one of the best rosters in college baseball ahead of the 2026 season. The Tigers have landed some legitimate MLB prospects to play the field and if they end up making it to campus, Clemson will have one of the best offensive teams in the ACC next season. They could also be in line to host another regional.
Addressing pitching needs should make fans happy as it was the biggest weakness in 2025. Bakich is taking his “getting back to a World Series” quote seriously so far this offseason.
Bakich and Brad Brownell have owned the transfer portal recently. Dabo next?
NIL
Ranking the Top Five WVU Players Who Would Have Broken the Bank in the NIL Era
NIL has changed the game in college athletics in a big way. Not only can athletes earn money from local and national businesses, but they can now be paid directly by the university they attend, thanks to the House Settlement. This got me thinking. Which former West Virginia legends would have made the most money […]

NIL has changed the game in college athletics in a big way. Not only can athletes earn money from local and national businesses, but they can now be paid directly by the university they attend, thanks to the House Settlement.
This got me thinking. Which former West Virginia legends would have made the most money had NIL been a thing during their playing days?
Before I get into my top five, I want to make it known that I tried to include some defensive players, but there was just no room. Plus, we all know skill players on offense are the ones who typically make the most money.
Honorable mention: RB Avon Cobourne, WR Stedman Bailey, LB Darryl Talley, CB Aaron Beasley.
I know what you’re thinking..what?!? Fifth?!? As special as Tavon Austin was, wide receivers just aren’t valued as much as quarterbacks, of course. Don’t get me wrong, he was widely viewed as one of the most electrifying players in college football during his playing days, but his national audience really exploded after his senior year when the “Only One” highlight video went viral. Tavon would have made a lot of money, but probably not as much as his quarterback.
Speaking of the guy who threw it to Tavon, Geno checks in at No. 4. Heck, you could make a case that he should be a spot higher, but I’ll explain my reasoning for that here in a second. Geno was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in college football and wasn’t afraid to take shots downfield. Other schools would have been doing everything they could to pry him out of Morgantown if the NIL era were during his time. Could you imagine the type of money that would have been thrown at him after the Orange Bowl? Holy smokes.
Slaton is the highest-ranked non-QB on this list. I have him just ahead of Geno because he was, after all, an All-American and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2006. You also have to keep in mind how valuable running the football was in the early 2000s. With the numbers he posted in ’06, it would have made it very difficult for WVU to keep others away.
Had Pat White arrived in Morgantown, say, 10 years later, he would have been viewed as a first-round draft pick. When he came out, the NFL hadn’t really opened up to the idea of smaller, mobile quarterbacks, and yet he still went in the second round. White was an unstoppable force during his college days and would have had some massive offers after the Sugar Bowl, let alone after the Fiesta Bowl, when schools could have tried to take advantage of Rich Rodriguez leaving for Michigan.
“The Maj” was truly ahead of his time. He was a unique talent back in the 80s, as dual-threat quarterbacks were more of a rarity. All of the blue bloods would have done everything they could to try to get their hands on the unicorn at the most prized position. This is what puts Major ahead of Pat (on this list) for me. He would have had more value because there was nothing else like him in college football. As far as who the greatest Mountaineer ever is? That’s a different debate, and one I’m not taking a side on. Sorry.
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NIL
As Jerome Bettis Jr. Starts at Notre Dame, His Father Questions NIL Era
Jerome Bettis lived life as a major college athlete in the early ’90s when he helped form one of the great backfields in the history of Notre Dame football. He then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Rams and Steelers before retiring and eventually returning to South Bend some 30 […]

Jerome Bettis lived life as a major college athlete in the early ’90s when he helped form one of the great backfields in the history of Notre Dame football. He then went on to a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Rams and Steelers before retiring and eventually returning to South Bend some 30 years later to earn his degree.
Now Bettis is enjoying life on the other side of things, this time as a parent of a Notre Dame football player. Jerome Bettis, Jr. is a freshman wide receiver for the Fighting Irish and is getting set for his freshman year this coming fall.
— Jerome Bettis Jr (@jeromebettisjr) March 17, 2024
The elder Bettis can certainly see differences in college sports now versus when he played for Lou Holtz, and some of them he’s not too fond of.
“One of the first two questions is gonna be money.” Bettis told the Sporting News, “That was never in the equation. What you used to look for is not necessarily the priority as much. That’s the scary part about this new NIL world that these players are living in. The educational side, I think, is now put on the back burner with the understanding that it’s about the NIL and it is about playing time, right? And, I think that’s the way this, it’s kind of been skewed. I’m not a big fan of, kind of how the process is. I understand it,” Bettis told Andrew Hughes.
Don’t get it confused, Bettis isn’t against NIL, but he’s certainly not a fan of the lack of true commitment that comes these days.
“I think the NIL is necessary, but I do believe you’ve gotta find a way to get the players a little bit more commitment, in a sense that, right now, NIL with the transfer portal makes it a free agency fest. I think it really disrupts a young person’s opportunity with the education. Because if I’m transferring year to year, how is the education affected by that? Because ultimately, what I try to make sure of, that the young people understand when I’m talking to them, is that even if you do have an incredible NFL career, you may play eight, 10 years.
Bettis noted that even those with the best NFL careers post-college have a lot of life left following their playing days.
“You’re gonna be 32, 33, 34 years old. That degree is going to be necessary at some point. You have a long life to live. That education with pay dividends and will be a factor. But if you’re not considering it at all, then it can be to your detriment.”
Based on reading the headline on The Sporting News webpage today, I was worried that Bettis was going to come off sounding like an old man yelling at a cloud. I think what he has to say speaks to why Notre Dame is having so much success in recruiting lately, and specifically with sons of former NFL players.
Those guys get what life is like during a pro football career as well as after. At 16 or 17 years old they may think football will last forever, but before you know it, it’s done, and there are decades upon decades left to live and thrive elsewhere.
Having a degree in something other than Underwater Basket Weaving is a key part of the opportunity that is afforded and Bettis probably has experience of former teammates in the pros could have used more of the academic opportunity, and fears those missed chances may only get worse with this generation when they jump from program to program on an annual basis.
NIL
5
Many college football fans believe NIL is ruining the sport they love. In today’s age, it feels like players have no loyalty and are chasing the biggest paycheck over staying with a program and developing throughout their careers. Despite the criticism of NIL, one of the benefits is that it allows high school athletes to […]

Many college football fans believe NIL is ruining the sport they love. In today’s age, it feels like players have no loyalty and are chasing the biggest paycheck over staying with a program and developing throughout their careers.
Despite the criticism of NIL, one of the benefits is that it allows high school athletes to immediately make money to support their families through things like brand deals. One that has taken advantage of NIL is Adidas, and the company just announced its newest class of football stars to represent the brand.

Adidas Unveils Stacked 2025 NIL Class Featuring Top Football Recruits
Adidas recently announced its 2025 NIL class, featuring six top recruits in the 2026 cycle. Each of these athletes will be featured in brand campaigns for the company throughout their final year of high school.
The class is headlined by five-star Tyler Atkison, the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class, and five-star LSU commit Tristen Keys, the No.1 wide receiver in the 2026 class.
I’m blessed to continue #AtkNup with #Adidas.
@adidasfootball @adidas @adidasUS @grayson_fb @MilesGarrettTV @On3NIL @On3Recruits @ChadSimmons_ @samspiegs @TomLoy247 @GDPsports @Mhoward38 @MensHealthMag @RecruitGeorgia@jeffsentell @Zack_Poff_MP https://t.co/jNrzB87XRi
— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) June 27, 2025
Along with Atkinson and Keys, Adidas class also features four additional top receiver recruits: five-star Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr, five-star Calvin Russell, four-star Ohio State commit Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, and four-star Texas A&M commit Madden Williams.
It’s a star-studded high school class for Adidas and represents the ever-changing landscape of college athletics in the age of NIL.
While there are obviously downsides to the current NIL system, the fact that these young athletes can sign with a company like Adidas and earn money before they even get to college highlights how NIL can be so special and make massive impacts on these players’ lives.
Every athlete that Adidas signed to this campaign has proven themselves at a high level and are all regarded as some of the best high school football players in the country. They’ve earned the right to be able to make money off of their name, image, and likeness, and Adidas is giving them the platform to do so.
Time will tell if their college careers pan out. Still, they have at least had the opportunity to make life-changing money by signing with Adidas for their senior years and will attempt to solidify their place in college football during the 2026 season.
NIL
Clemson football has 5th-best offense in EA Sports College Football 26
Clemson football fans are gearing up for a huge season but they’ll also be preparing for that kickoff against LSU in two months with some EA Sports College Football 26. Tiger fans will be firing up the game in less than two weeks when it’s released and you know everyone will be choosing Clemson when […]

Clemson football fans are gearing up for a huge season but they’ll also be preparing for that kickoff against LSU in two months with some EA Sports College Football 26.
Tiger fans will be firing up the game in less than two weeks when it’s released and you know everyone will be choosing Clemson when they start their dynasties or Road to Glory modes.
If you do pick Clemson, you’ll have the seventh-best overall team in the game (also tied for the second-highest-rated) which features one of the best offenses. Yes, Clemson will have one of the top offenses in the game when it’s usually known for defense.
Clemson will have the No. 5 offense in the game when it’s released with a 89 overall rating, according to a new ratings reveal on Friday.
The most explosive offenses in College Football 26 are here! #CFB26 | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/EC8BWh8f2X
— EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) June 27, 2025
Clemson’s offense is behind only Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, and Arizona State. You could make legitimate arguments that they could be ahead of everyone not named Texas because of the returning production and the fact that the Tigers have the best quarterback in the country but this is a pretty good spot.
Plus, it has LSU at No. 6 which is only going to set up an epic showdown in Death Valley to begin the season as two of the most explosive offenses square off under the lights.
Clemson is surprisingly not the only ACC team to crack the top 10 as Miami also has an 89 rating at No. 10, but the Tigers have more pieces and proven experience.
Raise your hand if you can’t wait until this game comes out.
NIL
After NCAA denied his eligibility request, Louisville’s Aly Khalifa can now play in 2025-26
Aly Khalifa, who was a member of Mark Pope‘s BYU team during the 2023-24 season, will take on his former head coach later this season. On Friday, the Louisville men’s basketball program announced that Khalifa has been ruled eligible for the upcoming 2025-26 season after his original waiver request was denied by the NCAA in […]

Aly Khalifa, who was a member of Mark Pope‘s BYU team during the 2023-24 season, will take on his former head coach later this season.
On Friday, the Louisville men’s basketball program announced that Khalifa has been ruled eligible for the upcoming 2025-26 season after his original waiver request was denied by the NCAA in May. Khalifa, a 6-foot-11, 275-pound pass-first center, redshirted the 2024-25 season at Louisville while recovering from knee surgery.
After missing out on the opportunity to face Pope and Kentucky last season (a 93-85 home win for UK), Khalifa will finally have that chance on November 11 when the Cardinals host the Wildcats at the KFC Yum! Center. Admittedly, the video of Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey announcing to the team that Khalifa can play next season is pretty cool.
Khalifa, who hails from Egypt, began his college career at Charlotte for two seasons, where he was named the Conference USA Rookie of the Year in 2021-22. As a sophomore in 2022-23, he had his best statistical season thus far: 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 28.6 minutes per outing. Not known as the fastest or most athletic player on the floor, Khalifa carved out a role as a playmaker and floor-spreader.
So naturally, once he dipped into the transfer portal in 2023, Pope came calling with plenty of interest. Khalifa signed with BYU and started 26 of 29 games with the Cougars in 2023-24. He was Amari Williams before Pope had Amari Williams — someone who initiated the offense from the high post and helped direct traffic. Khalifa averaged 5.7 points, four assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game for BYU.
Khalifa considered following Pope to Kentucky last offseason (a return to BYU was also on the table), but he elected to join Kelsey at the school up the road. Khalifa told KSR during the NCAA Tournament that there we no hard feelings between him and Pope.
“He’s a great coach, that’s what he deserves, that’s what they expect as well from the head coach at Kentucky. It’s his dream job,” Khalifa said in March. “We had a great year last year and this year he’s having a great year. Hopefully it goes on. But I’m not surprised at all. I knew he was gonna be good. He has a lot of great pieces from the portal he got. I wish the best for him.”
The Big Blue Nation should be excited that Khalifa was ruled eligible — there won’t be any room for excuses from Louisville fans when Kentucky wins again this fall.
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