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Sports analytics site lists Bills' DB as top player at his position for 2024

The Buffalo Bills have one of the most underrated players in the game roaming their secondary. And it looks like he may finally be getting the credit he deserves. Cody Alexander — Head of Football Operations for sports analytics company Field Vision Sports — shared his top five NFL cornerbacks from the 2024 season on […]

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Sports analytics site lists Bills' DB as top player at his position for 2024

The Buffalo Bills have one of the most underrated players in the game roaming their secondary. And it looks like he may finally be getting the credit he deserves.

Cody Alexander — Head of Football Operations for sports analytics company Field Vision Sports — shared his top five NFL cornerbacks from the 2024 season on X this week. Of course, the likes of All-Pros Pat Surtain II, Derek Stingley Jr., and Marlon Humphrey were within the group.

But his No. 1 CB? None other than the Bills’ CB1, Christian Benford.

According to Field Vision’s havoc rating system, Benford ranked highest in the league among CBs with a 95.0 rating. He also posted a 90.2 zone coverage grade and allowed 18.6 receiving yards per game.

”He is a pure zone CB who can play man,” said Alexander in his X post “Still, Benford is a perfect fit in the Bills system on a down-for-down basis.“

One may be wondering, “what’s the havoc rating?” Here’s how it’s described on Field Vision’s site:

“Field Vision’s Havoc Ratings were built by creating a model that calculate individual player impact on a play-by-play basis,” says Field Vision’s website. “Accounting for virtually every outcome a player is responsible for that creates (or degrades) value for their team.

RELATED: Bills’ belief in overlooked CB prospect yields mega payday for Day 3 draft pick

”Field Vision’s Havoc Rating is an expression of a players value (i.e. How good they are) relative to others in their position group, accounting for the scheme that they play in. Our goal is to get to the most precise, data-based ranking of players and how good they are relative to their peers based on the play-by-play results they actually produce on the field.”

The havoc scale ranges from 0-100.

Benford may still be underrated nationally, but Buffalo’s general manager Brandon Beane knows just how valuable he is with the recent contract extension he took care of him with. And if he keeps outperforming his sixth-round pick status from 2022, Benford could be one of the best investments Beane has made during his Bills’ tenure.

Christian Benford and Rasul Douglas

Buffalo Bills cornerbacks Christian Benford (47) and Rasul Douglas (31). / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  —

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TICKET PUNCHED: Hannah Caiola Selected for 2025 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field National Championships

Story Links NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut Women’s Outdoor Track & Field standout Hannah Caiola was selected to compete in the 400m Dash at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, as announced by the NCAA on May 13th. It is the third-straight […]

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut Women’s Outdoor Track & Field standout Hannah Caiola was selected to compete in the 400m Dash at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, as announced by the NCAA on May 13th. It is the third-straight national championship appearance for Caiola and the second this year. 

Caiola has been absolutely dominant on the track this season. Coming off a decorated indoor season, she broke the SCSU Outdoor Record in the 400m Dash with a time of 52.36. That is currently the #2 time in all of Division II, and ranks in the top-40 across all divisions. She brought home three golds at the 2025 Northeast-10 Conference Championships, winning the 200m, 400m, and 4×100, and was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Track Performer. Most recently, she won the New England Championships in the 200m Dash with a personal-best time of 23.81, which ranks 35th in all of Division II. It is also the second-fastest 200m time in program history. She was also an All-East Region performer in four events (200m, 400m, 4×100, 4×400). 

This marks Caiola’s second time being selected for the Outdoor National Championships and her third national selection overall. At the 2024 NCAA Outdoor National Championships, she placed ninth in the 400m Dash, and finished 11th in the same event at this year’s Indoor National Championships, earning second-team All-American honors both times. 

Caiola, alongside four Owls from the Men’s team, will compete at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships from May 22nd-24th, hosted by CSU Pueblo in Pueblo, Colorado. 


 



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‘Love Island’ contestant Cashel Barnett accused of domestic violence in Utah

Prosecutors allege Barnett got into an argument with his child’s mother where he picked her up by the neck and held her down on a bed until she couldn’t breathe. SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — Sacramento native and reality TV contestant Cashel Barnett is facing charges of domestic violence in Salt Lake City. Barnett, who […]

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Prosecutors allege Barnett got into an argument with his child’s mother where he picked her up by the neck and held her down on a bed until she couldn’t breathe.

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — Sacramento native and reality TV contestant Cashel Barnett is facing charges of domestic violence in Salt Lake City.

Barnett, who went to Rio Americano High School and played water polo for Fordham University, appeared in the first season of “Love Island USA” in 2019 and “The Challenge: USA” in 2022.

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office this week formally charged Barnett with aggravated assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.

Prosecutors allege Barnett got into an argument with his child’s mother around April 10, 2025. He’s accused of picking her up by the neck with both hands, slamming her onto a bed and holding her down until she couldn’t breathe.

Their child, who had just turned 1, was reportedly present at the time.

The DA’s office said the agency believes the victim will likely suffer further domestic abuse, and Barnett should be booked and held without bail.

Salt Lake County jail records show Barnett hasn’t been arrested or booked since being charged.

WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Menendez Brothers Latest | Lawyer Mark Geragos speaks after judge resentences the brothers



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Corey Green Added to Women's Basketball Staff

MINNEAPOLIS – Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit has announced the addition of Corey Green to the University of Minnesota women’s basketball staff. This will be his first season as Director of Basketball Operations after a successful career working in women’s basketball. “We are thrilled to welcome Corey and his wife Sheila to the Gopher family, as […]

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Corey Green Added to Women's Basketball Staff

MINNEAPOLIS – Head coach Dawn Plitzuweit has announced the addition of Corey Green to the University of Minnesota women’s basketball staff. This will be his first season as Director of Basketball Operations after a successful career working in women’s basketball.

“We are thrilled to welcome Corey and his wife Sheila to the Gopher family, as Corey will serve as our Director of Basketball Operations,” said Plitzuweit. “He is not only a detail oriented individual, but he also brings invaluable experience and extensive knowledge to his role. He has great energy and passion for women’s basketball and has a heart for serving student-athletes. We really believe that he will be a tremendous addition to our staff.”

Prior to Minnesota, Green spent four seasons at Old Dominion University as the Director of Basketball Operations and Analytics. With the Monarchs, Green was responsible for travel logistics, budget oversight, compliance, and creation of analytical reports. In addition, he took on the role as the Social Media Manager, helping leverage the program to engage on all social media platforms.

Prior to ODU, Green was on staff at Memphis for three seasons. He served as the women’s basketball video coordinator during the 2018-19 season before being named the program’s director of operations in September 2019. As video coordinator, Green was responsible for film exchange and video scouting reports. His responsibilities as director of operations included team-related compliance, travel and meals.
 
Green came to Memphis following a two-year stint at Detroit, where he was a graduate assistant with women’s basketball. While with the Titans, Green assisted in all aspects of the program from recruiting and scouting to individual workouts with all position groups. His first year with the program saw the Titans win 18 games and reach the finals of the Horizon League Tournament.
 
Green served in a variety of roles during his first go around with the Monarchs. He began working with the program prior to the 2013-14 season as a student manager and office assistant. He helped run basketball camps and clinics, assisted in travel coordination and worked with the program’s post players. He served as the interim video coordinator for the 2015-16 season.
 
Green graduated from Old Dominion in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management.

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Pokes Travel to Mountain West Outdoor Championships in Clovis

CLOVIS, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – The University of Wyoming track and field program heads west for the 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium from Thursday to Saturday. Competition on all three days of the championship will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.   […]

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CLOVIS, Calif. (May 14, 2025) – The University of Wyoming track and field program heads west for the 2025 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium from Thursday to Saturday.

Competition on all three days of the championship will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.

 









MOUNTAIN WEST OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Date | Time Thursday, May 15 | Heptathlon: 10:50 a.m. | Field: Noon | Track: 6:30 p.m.

Friday, May 16 | Heptathlon: 11:20 a.m. | Field: 5 p.m. | Track: 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 17 | Field: 2 p.m. | Track: 6:35 p.m.
Location Veterans Memorial Stadium | Clovis, Calif.
Teams Men: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, New Mexico, San Jose State, Utah State, Wyoming

Women: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming
Live Stats Record Timing
Watch Mountain West Network

This weekend’s championship meet will be Wyoming’s last chance to qualify student-athletes for the NCAA West First Round in College Station, Texas, the first stop on the way to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The top 48 declared student-athletes are accepted to the West First Round in individual events while the top 24 relay teams are accepted. Combined events (Heptathlon and Decathlon) will only send 24 competitors to the Championships, skipping the First Round.

The Individual event and relay team accepted entries will be posted on NCAA.com next week following the conclusion of all conference championships.

2025 OUTDOOR RECAP

Wyoming racked up 32 first-place finishes and broke four school records in the 2025 outdoor season. Pokes also set 32 Top-10 program marks and currently have 35 Top-10 marks in the Mountain West this season.

Nationally, the Cowboys boast six Top-50 marks in the nation while the Cowgirls have three in the Top-100.

Senior thrower Daniel Reynolds has followed his indoor national weight throw title by breaking the school hammer throw record with the No. 9 throw in the country of 72.97 meters.  

Junior distance runner Jacob White added to his school records this season with the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters. He now holds six school records across cross country and indoor/outdoor track and field.

Freshman sprinter Taliah Morris has shown out in her first outdoor season with three Top-10 program times. The Wyoming native holds Top-10 MW times in four events heading into the conference championships.

Senior Allyson Fertig joined the throws squad after hanging up her hooping shoes after an illustrious basketball career capped off by the Mountain West Player of the Year award. In just her third meet since throwing in high school, she entered the Wyoming record book with the No. 10 throw in outdoor history of 14.60 meters. She currently holds the No. 7 throw in the conference this season.

Junior Ryker Holtzen, the reigning MW 3,000-meter steeplechase champion, broke the program record in the steeplechase with a time of 8:35.70 at the Stanford Invite. His time is No. 17 in the nation this season and second in the conference.

WYOMING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (All Times MT)

Thursday:

10:50 a.m. – Women’s Heptathlon

Noon – Women’s Hammer Throw

2:15 p.m. – Men’s Hammer Throw

6:30 p.m. – Women’s 800m Prelim

6:50 p.m. – Men’s 800m Prelim

7:10 p.m. – Women’s 200m Prelim

7:35 p.m. – Men’s 200m Prelim

8 p.m. – Women’s 400m Hurdles Prelim

8 p.m. – Men’s Javelin

8:20 p.m. – Men’s 400m Hurdles Prelim

9 p.m. – Women’s 10,000m

9:40 p.m. – Men’s 10,000m

Friday:

11:20 a.m. – Women’s Heptathlon

5 p.m. – Men’s Long Jump

6:30 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles Prelim

6:30 p.m. – Women’s Shot Put

6:45 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles Prelim

7:10 p.m. – Women’s 1,500m Prelim

7:30 p.m. – Men’s 1,500m Prelim

7:35 p.m. – Women’s Long Jump

7:50 p.m. – Women’s 400m Prelim

8:15 p.m. – Men’s 400m Prelim

8:30 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put

8:40 p.m. – Women’s 100m Prelim

9 p.m. – Men’s 100m Prelim

9:20 p.m. – Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase

9:40 p.m. – Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase

Saturday:

4 p.m. – Women’s Triple Jump

4:15 p.m. – Men’s Discus

4:30 p.m. – Women’s High Jump

6:35 p.m. – Women’s 4x100m Relay

6:45 p.m. – Men’s 4x100m Relay

6:55 p.m. – Women’s 1,500m Final

7:05 p.m. – Men’s 1,500m Final

7:15 p.m. – Women’s 100m Hurdles Final

7:15 p.m. – Men’s Triple Jump

7:25 p.m. – Men’s 110m Hurdles Final

7:35 p.m. – Women’s 400m Final

7:45 p.m. – Men’s 400m Final

7:55 p.m. – Women’s 100m Final

8:05 p.m. – Men’s 100m Final

8:15 p.m. – Women’s 800m Final

8:25 p.m. – Men’s 800m Final

8:35 p.m. – Women’s 400m Hurdles Final

8:45 p.m. – Men’s 400m Hurdles Final

8:55 p.m. – Women’s 200m Final

9:05 p.m. – Men’s 200m Final

9:15 p.m. – Women’s 5,000m

9:35 p.m. – Men’s 5,000m

10:00 p.m. – Women’s 4x400m Relay

10:10 p.m. – Men’s 4x400m Relay

 

LAST TIME OUT

In the last regular-season meet of the season, Wyoming crossed the border to compete at the Doug Max Invitational in Fort Collins, Colo. Wyoming earned six first-place finishes, set 34 personal bests and ended with 12 Top-10 school marks.

Senior thrower Cam Burkett had a great outing by breaking his personal best in the shot put and winning the event. His throw of 63′ 1″ (19.23 meters), the only put over 19 meters, leads the MW and is No. 23 in the nation.

Junior jumper Elayna Chafee won the triple jump with a huge PR of 12.49 meters, good for No. 4 in school history and No. 5 in the MW this season. She also finished second in the long jump with a leap of 5.93 meters.

Junior Jacob White and senior Mason Norman broke the previous school record in the 1,500 meters in Saturday’s meet. White finished with a time of 3:40.52, also the new meet record, while Norman ran a time of 3:42.57, after altitude conversions.

Freshman Taliah Morris tied for first in the women’s 100-meter dash. Her personal-best time of 11.67 moved her to No. 3 in program history.

Stay up to date with Wyoming track & field by following @wyo_track on X and Instagram.

 

-WYO-



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Olympics water taxi service between Long Beach, San Pedro gets support

In their pursuit of keeping people out of their cars during the Olympics, Los Angeles County leaders will consider installing a water taxi for the 2028 Olympics to transport fans between San Pedro and Long Beach, where multiple events will be hosted. County Supervisor Janice Hahn introduced a motion Wednesday during Metro’s Olympics and Paralympics […]

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In their pursuit of keeping people out of their cars during the Olympics, Los Angeles County leaders will consider installing a water taxi for the 2028 Olympics to transport fans between San Pedro and Long Beach, where multiple events will be hosted.

County Supervisor Janice Hahn introduced a motion Wednesday during Metro’s Olympics and Paralympics committee meeting to launch a feasibility study assessing ridership demand, cost and possible routes. The motion was unanimously approved by the committee members and public comment was overwhelmingly supportive, with some residents suggesting a water taxi be installed sooner to accommodate for the upcoming months-long closure of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

“If we’re serious about the 2028 Games being transit-first, we must make transit safe, accessible, reliable and fun for people, and we can’t only rely on our buses and trains,” said Hahn, who chairs the committee. “[The water taxi] would give residents, workers and tourists an affordable alternative to driving and parking at these Games venues.”

The motion was co-authored by Mayor Karen Bass, Metro board members Fernando Dutra and Jacquelin Dupont-Walker, and Inglewood Mayor James Butts. The study will be delivered back to the board in 90 days.

So far, San Pedro isn’t slated to host any events, but will serve as the “Croatia House” — a cultural hub for Croatia’s athletes, leaders and tourists. That agreement was made last year between L.A. City Councilmember Tim McOsker and Zlatko Mateša, the president of the National Olympic Committee of Croatia. Long Beach will host 11 events, including beach volleyball, water polo and rowing.

Los Angeles faces challenges in meeting its transit goals for the 2028 Games, which Bass proposed as a “car-free” Olympics, largely dependent on the acquisition of thousands of buses to transport fans to venues across the region.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the city has received leasing commitments for about 650 buses. Officials’ goal is to lease nearly 3,000 buses for a price tag of roughly $2 billion. Metro previously asked the federal government to cover the funding in a request for $3.2 billion toward Olympics projects. But as the Trump administration has threatened funds across multiple departments, the monies remain in flux.

Hahn previously told The Times that Metro will move forward with its plans under the assumption that funding will be fulfilled.

The water taxi would offer alternatives to bus needs and was presented as a way to alleviate congestion along the two bridges connecting San Pedro to Long Beach and surrounding roads. Fans would be able to park in San Pedro, or board the ferry from Metro’s J Line.

There is precedent for the ferry service, Hahn said, citing an operation that once shuttled passengers between the Terminal Island fishing village and San Pedro. That ferry ran from 1941 to 1963, according to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, which is housed in one of the original ferry buildings.



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Morgan Riordan hired as assistant coach for Augustana water polo programs

Story Links ROCK ISLAND — Head men’s and women’s water polo coach Ryan Pryor has announced the hiring of Morgan Riordan as the programs’ new assistant coach. “I am excited to add Morgan to our coaching staff,” said Pryor. “She has a great combination of coaching and playing experience, having competed at […]

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ROCK ISLAND — Head men’s and women’s water polo coach Ryan Pryor has announced the hiring of Morgan Riordan as the programs’ new assistant coach.

“I am excited to add Morgan to our coaching staff,” said Pryor. “She has a great combination of coaching and playing experience, having competed at the NCAA Championships during her time as an athlete at Salem. Adding Morgan as a full-time assistant coach is a great step for our program as we continue to build our ultimate goal of winning national championships. Her skills, experience, and enthusiasm will be a tremendous asset to the team.”

Riordan comes to Augustana after serving as an assistant coach with the Salem water polo and swimming team since 2022. She also assisted with the athletic department and has experience with various game operations and management. Riordan competed for the Salem women’s water polo and swim teams from 2021-24 and was a part of two national championship appearances in water polo in 2021 and 2022. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sports Management last year and is working towards her MBA in Sport & Recreation Management currently. Riordan was a four-time Dean’s List recipient, a four-time ACWPC All-Academic selection, and made the Western Water Polo Association’s All-Academic Team four times. 

“I am incredibly honored and excited to join Augustana as the assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s water polo teams,” said Riordan. “I look forward to supporting these talented student-athletes and contributing to a program that values hard work, growth, and team culture.”

In addition to her role with Salem Athletics, Riordan worked with the North West Chicago Water Polo Club last summer as a Junior Olympic Coach. She also spent time working with the Chicago Aquatics Water Polo Club, Chicago Park District, and USA Water Polo as a volunteer instructor. 

Riordan’s duties with Augustana water polo will begin August 1. 



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