Deadspin | Braves’ Dominic Smith pushes to deliver again vs. Marlins Apr 14, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith (8) runs the bases after hitting a three-run double against the Miami Marlins in the eight inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Dominic Smith has proved to be a consequential addition to the Atlanta Braves’ roster, even though he signed with the club only six days before the season opener. Smith delivered a bases-clearing double with two outs in the eighth inning to help the Braves record a 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. Atlanta evened its three-game series with visiting Miami heading into the finale on Wednesday night. It wasn’t the first time that Smith delivered in the clutch. He hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to beat Kansas City on March 28 in his Atlanta debut. “It’s been a whirlwind ever since I signed with the Braves in spring training,” Smith said. “I signed a little late, but to get the opportunity to join this great group was a dream come true. This team has welcomed me with open arms from day one, and this has been a ride.” Smith was 3-for-4 with four RBIs on Tuesday, lifting his batting average to .395 with 15 RBIs. “The biggest thing is just having the confidence pitch-to-pitch,” he said. “It only takes one pitch to get the job done. The biggest thing is just going up there and not trying to do too much.” The pitching matchup for the series finale will feature a pair of right-handers — Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (1-1, 1.02 ERA) vs. Miami’s Chris Paddack (0-2, 6.14). Elder will make his fourth start of the season and has not allowed more than two runs in any appearance. In his last outing on Friday, he did not receive a decision after allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings against Cleveland. The Braves won 11-5. In 10 career starts against the Marlins — his most appearances against any opponent — Elder is 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA. He was 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts against them last season. Paddack, who signed a one-year, free-agent deal with Miami in February, will make his fourth start of the season. He made his first quality start in his last outing on Friday, when he was charged with two earned runs on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers. “Chris was great. He really was,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He really located the bottom of the zone. Just painting down there. “To go six there and keep us right there a 2-0. I thought he used his whole mix really well.” Paddack has made four career appearances (three starts) against the Braves, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.14 ERA. He made one start against them last season and did not receive a decision. Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias earned a save on Tuesday. It was his 100th since joining the Braves in 2022. He is 100-for-114 in save situations and joined Craig Kimbrel, John Smoltz, Gene Garber and Mark Wohlers as the only others to reach 100 saves with the Braves. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Braves #Dominic #Smith #pushes #deliver #Marlins

Deadspin | Braves’ Dominic Smith pushes to deliver again vs. Marlins
Apr 14, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith (8) runs the bases after hitting a three-run double against the Miami Marlins in the eight inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images

Dominic Smith has proved to be a consequential addition to the Atlanta Braves’ roster, even though he signed with the club only six days before the season opener.

Smith delivered a bases-clearing double with two outs in the eighth inning to help the Braves record a 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Atlanta evened its three-game series with visiting Miami heading into the finale on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t the first time that Smith delivered in the clutch. He hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to beat Kansas City on March 28 in his Atlanta debut.

“It’s been a whirlwind ever since I signed with the Braves in spring training,” Smith said. “I signed a little late, but to get the opportunity to join this great group was a dream come true. This team has welcomed me with open arms from day one, and this has been a ride.”

Smith was 3-for-4 with four RBIs on Tuesday, lifting his batting average to .395 with 15 RBIs.

“The biggest thing is just having the confidence pitch-to-pitch,” he said. “It only takes one pitch to get the job done. The biggest thing is just going up there and not trying to do too much.”

The pitching matchup for the series finale will feature a pair of right-handers — Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (1-1, 1.02 ERA) vs. Miami’s Chris Paddack (0-2, 6.14).

Elder will make his fourth start of the season and has not allowed more than two runs in any appearance. In his last outing on Friday, he did not receive a decision after allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings against Cleveland. The Braves won 11-5.

In 10 career starts against the Marlins — his most appearances against any opponent — Elder is 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA. He was 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts against them last season.

Paddack, who signed a one-year, free-agent deal with Miami in February, will make his fourth start of the season. He made his first quality start in his last outing on Friday, when he was charged with two earned runs on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

“Chris was great. He really was,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He really located the bottom of the zone. Just painting down there. “To go six there and keep us right there a 2-0. I thought he used his whole mix really well.”

Paddack has made four career appearances (three starts) against the Braves, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.14 ERA. He made one start against them last season and did not receive a decision.

Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias earned a save on Tuesday. It was his 100th since joining the Braves in 2022. He is 100-for-114 in save situations and joined Craig Kimbrel, John Smoltz, Gene Garber and Mark Wohlers as the only others to reach 100 saves with the Braves.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Braves #Dominic #Smith #pushes #deliver #Marlins

Sports news April 15, 2026

Apr 14, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Dominic Smith (8) runs the bases after hitting a three-run double against the Miami Marlins in the eight inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images

Dominic Smith has proved to be a consequential addition to the Atlanta Braves’ roster, even though he signed with the club only six days before the season opener.

Smith delivered a bases-clearing double with two outs in the eighth inning to help the Braves record a 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

Atlanta evened its three-game series with visiting Miami heading into the finale on Wednesday night.

It wasn’t the first time that Smith delivered in the clutch. He hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to beat Kansas City on March 28 in his Atlanta debut.

“It’s been a whirlwind ever since I signed with the Braves in spring training,” Smith said. “I signed a little late, but to get the opportunity to join this great group was a dream come true. This team has welcomed me with open arms from day one, and this has been a ride.”

Smith was 3-for-4 with four RBIs on Tuesday, lifting his batting average to .395 with 15 RBIs.

“The biggest thing is just having the confidence pitch-to-pitch,” he said. “It only takes one pitch to get the job done. The biggest thing is just going up there and not trying to do too much.”

The pitching matchup for the series finale will feature a pair of right-handers — Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (1-1, 1.02 ERA) vs. Miami’s Chris Paddack (0-2, 6.14).

Elder will make his fourth start of the season and has not allowed more than two runs in any appearance. In his last outing on Friday, he did not receive a decision after allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings against Cleveland. The Braves won 11-5.

In 10 career starts against the Marlins — his most appearances against any opponent — Elder is 2-4 with a 3.88 ERA. He was 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts against them last season.

Paddack, who signed a one-year, free-agent deal with Miami in February, will make his fourth start of the season. He made his first quality start in his last outing on Friday, when he was charged with two earned runs on seven hits, one walk and four strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

“Chris was great. He really was,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He really located the bottom of the zone. Just painting down there. “To go six there and keep us right there a 2-0. I thought he used his whole mix really well.”

Paddack has made four career appearances (three starts) against the Braves, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.14 ERA. He made one start against them last season and did not receive a decision.

Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias earned a save on Tuesday. It was his 100th since joining the Braves in 2022. He is 100-for-114 in save situations and joined Craig Kimbrel, John Smoltz, Gene Garber and Mark Wohlers as the only others to reach 100 saves with the Braves.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Braves #Dominic #Smith #pushes #deliver #Marlins

Why Caleb Downs is a premium prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Football is increasingly a game dictated by numbers.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The draft profile for Caleb Downs should begin there.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Let’s start with these numbers, from charting data collected while I studied his 2025 college football season. Downs played 208 snaps aligned as a half-field safety, with another 97 snaps aligned as a middle-of-the-field safety. The Ohio State defender aligned as a boundary cornerback for 50 more snaps, a slot corner for another 168 snaps, and even played 41 snaps down in the box.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">But the pre-snap numbers are just a part of the story. A brief snapshot of a bigger picture.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">After the snap, Downs rotated to the middle of the field for 232 of those plays, played as a deep boundary defender for 114 of those plays — including several where he began aligned in the slot or as a boundary corner — and spent many other either as the pole runner between the safeties, dropped down in the flat, or even rushing off the edge or through the interior.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Suffice it to say, Downs is one of the most versatile players in the 2026 NFL Draft.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Which might make him the best.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Downs began his college career at Alabama, playing under Nick Saban in his complex defensive system. But he stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman, recorded eight tackles in his debut, and ended the year as the SEC Freshman of the Year.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">When Saban announced he was stepping away from the game, Downs entered the transfer portal, and made the move to Ohio State. All he did while with the Buckeyes was become a two-time unanimous All-American, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and the winner of both the Lott Trophy (given to a college defensive player “for their personal character and athletic abilities”) and the Jim Thorpe Award (given to the best defensive back in college football).</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">He also helped Ohio State win a title in 2024.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Studying Downs between the lines, while that versatility stands out where he is at his best is down in the box, particularly working in zone coverage with his eyes on the offense. Watching Downs put his experience under both Saban and Matt Patricia to use as he works through route concepts is a thing of beauty, and will translate extremely well to the next level.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Take this play against Texas where he is aligned to the right side of the offense, on the single receiver side:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This is a third-down play, with the Buckeyes dropping into zone coverage. Downs matches the vertical release of the single receiver, turning him loose when that receiver breaks to the inside. As that happens, the safety drops down on the crossing route, taking that away from Arch Manning.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">When the quarterback breaks the pocket, Downs moves downhill slightly, but maintains a relationship to the back curling out of the backfield. That puts him in position to rally and tackle the back after the checkdown, forcing a fourth down for Texas.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Here is another example of this in action, also from his game against Texas. He begins the play aligned as a linebacker, but bumps out in response to motion. He matches the release from the #3 receiver, but then slides outside to take the out route from the #2 receiver:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Watch him on this play near the bottom of the screen, where he starts out in an inside alignment. He bumps out at the snap and matches the slant route from the outside receiver, but then peels off that and breaks on the checkdown from the running back:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">One last example of this in action comes from Ohio State’s game against Penn State. He is again in the box, on the right side of the offense. He matches a vertical release initially, then works to a potential wheel route, but when the quarterback breaks the pocket he crashes downhill on the crossing route:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The pass is off the target, but if this was a good throw the receiver would have paid a price.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Putting Downs in situations where he has his eyes towards the offense not only plays to his prowess in zone coverage, but it emphasizes one of his strengths: Being a wrecking ball working downhill against both the run and the pass. Watch this play against UCLA, where he works out of the slot and blows up a designed throw to the flat:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Not only does Downs beat the blocker to the spot but he completely shuts this play down before it begins, chopping down the receiver for a loss on the play.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Here is a similar moment against Purdue, only this comes on a middle screen:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Downs begins this snap aligned across from the #3 receiver. Purdue motions the back out to the right, creating a “fast” 4×1, and Downs mirrors that movement pre-snap. But watch how he tracks the back and then explodes downhill, turning what could have been a huge gain into a short play for the offense.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“Screenshot scouting” is best used sparingly, but it fits here:</p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.774566" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTAxMjA="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="692" data-pswp-width="1228" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-09-at-7.50.43AM.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This is the state of play when the underneath throw is made. With three linemen releasing upfield, Purdue has a chance at a big play.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Then there is what he can do against the run. Watch him work downhill on this run against Washington, holding the running back to a minimal gain in the red zone:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This is textbook from Downs, as he works down to the edge, maintains outside leverage, and executes a pitch-perfect tackle in space.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Watch him read this play off the left side of the offense against Miami:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The safety reads this play better than the offense, slicing inside at the snap and hitting the back behind the line of scrimmage.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">His ability against the run often starts with a perfect understanding of leverage. As with that example against Washington, watch him work outside-in on this snap against Illinois, where he begins the play aligned across from the single receiver on the left side of the offense:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Downs maintains outside leverage in relation to the running back, who initially thinks about bouncing this play to the outside. Only when the back commits inside does Downs make his move, breaking on the ballcarrier to hold this to a minimal gain.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Watch him “run the alley” on this snap against Ohio:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">In man coverage situations, Downs was often tasked with matching tight ends, often players who were bigger than him. But he showed an ability to get to the hip of the receiver, often forcing throwaways or making the quarterback look in a different direction.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Like on this play against Minnesota, where he works through traffic to get to a crossing route on a mesh concept, forcing a late throwaway from the quarterback:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Downs is viewed by many as one of the best football players in the class, but the question is one of positional value. As a safety, he plays a “non-premium” position and his draft stock in many ways parallels what we saw from Kyle Hamilton when he came out of Notre Dame. While the two are different types of safeties — Hamilton’s versatility included more of deep safety role while Downs thrives in the box — the discussion is similar.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Hamilton fell to No. 14 in the draft, will Downs have a similar fall?</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">What could work in Downs’ favor is what we just saw from the Seattle Seahawks. Under Mike Macdonald the Seahawks changed the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1100411/seahawks-have-changed-the-numbers-on-defense-to-key-nfl-playoff-run">numbers in their favor on defense</a>, playing with both safeties deep before the snap but relying on one of them to crash downhill when needed to stop the run.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">You can imagine Downs thriving in such a role, and with Seattle coming off a Super Bowl win, do not be surprised to see other teams try and replicate what Macdonald built in the Pacific Northwest.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Downs might be one of the best players in the class.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">And he might be coming out at the exact right moment.</p></div></div> #Caleb #Downs #premium #prospect #NFL #Draft

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France vs Spain LIVE score, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinal: FRA 0-2 ESP; Porro doubles the lead
France captain ‌Kylian Mbappe did not complete Monday’s ⁠final training session before the World ‌Cup semifinal against Spain after ‌suffering a ‌minor ⁠ankle injury during ⁠Les Bleus’ quarter-final win over Morocco.
Mbappe, who was ‌substituted late in France’s 2-0 victory last Thursday, was ‌partly rested during Monday’s session.
However, France coach Didier Deschamps told reporters, “Kylian is fine.”
Asked if Mbappe ‌had trained, he added, “Yes, he trained. He is ⁠allowed to do 10 ⁠minutes in one drill ‌instead of 15.”
#France #Spain #LIVE #score #FIFA #World #Cup #Semifinal #FRA #ESP #Porro #doubles #lead

MLB All-Star Game Best Bets: Picks, Odds and Predictions for AL vs. NL | Deadspin.com Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: betting As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish. Our Current Best OffersChannel debug: betting #MLB #AllStar #Game #Bets #Picks #Odds #Predictions #Deadspin.com

#MLB #AllStar #Game #Bets #Picks #Odds #Predictions #Deadspin.com">

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Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.
The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.
Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.

Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting

As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.

Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting

#MLB #AllStar #Game #Bets #Picks #Odds #Predictions #Deadspin.com">MLB All-Star Game Best Bets: Picks, Odds and Predictions for AL vs. NL | Deadspin.com

Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.

The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.

Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.

Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.

As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: betting

As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.

For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.

Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.

Our Current Best Offers

Channel debug: betting

#MLB #AllStar #Game #Bets #Picks #Odds #Predictions #Deadspin.com

Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) — Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

#season #Ole #impact #Trinidad #Chambliss #NFLreadiness">

How will one more season with Ole Miss impact QB Trinidad Chambliss’ NFL-readiness? When it comes to the 2027 quarterback class, hope springs eternal. Especially after a 2026 class that produced two first-rounders in Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, and a 2025 class that produced two in Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, the NFL prayer is that the 2027 group of signal-callers is more like the 2024 version, when there were three taken with the first three picks, six in the top 12, and four legit NFL starters in Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix. Even the relative stragglers (Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy) haven’t run entirely out of road when it comes to their NFL potential.Ostensibly, the 2027 class looks absolutely ridiculous from a tools and potential perspective. We could have Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr, and Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby (depending on how Sorsby is affected by recent gambling allegations) all fighting to rest atop next year’s QB draft listings, and there are ways in which each one could do it. Not to mention the fact that there will be a surprise interloper who comes out of nowhere to show NFL potential.That’s at least eight quarterbacks for NFL teams to consider next year. Of course, we also know that not every sure-thing prospect will ultimately become that even before he’s drafted; we’ve all seen the super-hyped guys fall down when they get hit without a plan.The idea with this series is to evaluate each of the prominent future prospects with one eye on what they’ve already done, and the other on what they need to do in order to reach their ultimate ceiling. We continue the deep dive with Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, who fought to stay in school despite a 2025 season that had him as a more than credible NFL prospect.Last season, Chambliss completed 294 of 448 passes (65.6%) for 3,934 yards (8.8 YPA), 22 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.9. He also ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards (4.5 YPA), eight touchdowns and three fumbles.After that, Chambliss filed a lawsuit to contend the NCAA denying him an extra year of eligibility, and he won that case. Now that he has another developmental year before he tries the NFL on for size, what’s already on the ball, and what does he need to refine?Let’s dive into the tape.Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesOne of the most interesting things about Chambliss as a smaller, inherently mobile quarterback, is that he doesn’t need to leave the pocket to hit the middle of the field. Last season, when throwing to the middle of the field (directly to the middle; not middle left or middle right), Chambliss completed 46 of 70 passes for 825 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.0.His 44.45 EPA on such throws was the NCAA’s 11th-best (minimum 50 attempts), and it’s one of the more NFL-ready parts of his game. Teams at the next level that work their passing games over the middle of the field (or want to do so) won’t have to take leave of that notion with Chambliss as their quarterback.Winning outside the pocketGLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ISI Photos via Getty ImagesOn throws outside the pocket last season, Chambliss completed 37 of 64 passes for 500 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 97.1. Chambliss has a good sense of his own mechanics when he’s throwing on the move — the arm strength is enough for him to hit his targets when he has to throw off-platform, and when he rights his shoulders to the target, he’s capable of making some really nice downfield passes from a moving pocket.GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 08: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels stiff-arms Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes in the first half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty ImagesChambliss has learned to deal with pressure very well — in 2025, he completed 44 of 81 passes when disrupted for 649 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.9. Chambliss’ yards per attempt average of 8.0 under pressure also tells you that he doesn’t automatically become Captain Checkdown when pressured. The aforementioned pocket movement helps him a lot in an NFL-conversant sense, and Chambliss has already served notice to defenses that if you blitz him, you will regret it.Against five or more pass rushers last season, whether pressured or not, Chambliss completed 119 of 194 passes for 1,521 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.9, which has higher than his passer rating of 104.7 when he wasn’t blitzed.You don’t see THAT too often. Chambliss will be relatively ready for an NFL that now looks to test quarterbacks with all kinds of stunts, games, and line movement, and he has anther year in college to refine that mastery.Going through progressionsOle Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) warms up before their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesAnd while Chambliss did have the NCAA’s second-most RPO passing attempts last season with 94, behind only that Fernando Mendoza guy (who had 103 such attempts), Chambliss is similar to Mendoza in that he isn’t over-reliant on quick one-two RPO reads to get things done in the passing game.On the kinds of throws that define the best quarterbacks at any level — the dig, corner, post, over, seam, and go routes — Chambliss completed 63 of 112 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 121.1, which ranked fourth in the NCAA among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts in the 2025 season. Chambliss can read through his second and third progressions with no problem; he won’t need his NFL coaches to break him down to the studs and start all over.Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesAs you would expect, Chambliss’ mobility extends to his ability to make important plays as a runner, whether on designed plays or scrambles. Overall, he ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards, eight touchdowns, and three fumbles. Chambliss had 15 designed QB draw runs last season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per play with a touchdown.I wouldn’t necessarily want to put Chambliss in the teeth of NFL defensive lines too often as a pure runner at his size — his coaches will need to be judicious about such things — but the rushing ability is just as good by design as it is when the play breaks down.GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks at the press conference after the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty ImagesChambliss still needs development when it comes to the timing of his throws in the design of the route concepts — he’s not always an anticipation thrower, and that can get him into trouble. The three interceptions look nice in the box score, but there were also several turnover-worthy throws last season, where he threw late into converging coverage, and it was the luck of the draw that saved him.The mechanics aren’t always consistent — Chambliss will get too cute at times when creating torque to throw, and he tries to do too much with his upper body. This “sticks” his lower body to the turf, and he (like most quarterbacks) can’t calculate the difference in direction and velocity when he does this.The arm arrogance is justified, as Chambliss can throw with authority to all levels of the field, but he will also zing the ball into obvious coverage with the presumed thought that he’s above the law, so to speak. He isn’t, and it wouldn’t take too much for his interception luck to turn in 2026, and for that to become painfully obvious.Chambliss doesn’t need to get outside the pocket to see the middle of the field, which is a notable attribute for any smaller quarterback, but there are times when he’ll leave the pocket when he doesn’t need to. He also doesn’t always square his shoulders to the target, which leads to other inaccuracies.It’s great that Chambliss can vary his velocity and ball flight on command, but there are times when he throws fastballs when off-speed pitches are required, and vice versa.Overall, I would have placed Chambliss high on my list of 2026 quarterback prospect list had he made himself available for the draft — most likely an early secondBut I would not be at all surprised if Chambliss comes out of the 2026 season higher on the 2027 QB draft list than people may imagine at this point in time. #season #Ole #impact #Trinidad #Chambliss #NFLreadiness

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When it comes to the 2027 quarterback class, hope springs eternal. Especially after a 2026 class that produced two first-rounders in Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, and a 2025 class that produced two in Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, the NFL prayer is that the 2027 group of signal-callers is more like the 2024 version, when there were three taken with the first three picks, six in the top 12, and four legit NFL starters in Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix. Even the relative stragglers (Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy) haven’t run entirely out of road when it comes to their NFL potential.
Ostensibly, the 2027 class looks absolutely ridiculous from a tools and potential perspective. We could have Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr, and Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby (depending on how Sorsby is affected by recent gambling allegations) all fighting to rest atop next year’s QB draft listings, and there are ways in which each one could do it. Not to mention the fact that there will be a surprise interloper who comes out of nowhere to show NFL potential.
That’s at least eight quarterbacks for NFL teams to consider next year. Of course, we also know that not every sure-thing prospect will ultimately become that even before he’s drafted; we’ve all seen the super-hyped guys fall down when they get hit without a plan.
The idea with this series is to evaluate each of the prominent future prospects with one eye on what they’ve already done, and the other on what they need to do in order to reach their ultimate ceiling. We continue the deep dive with Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, who fought to stay in school despite a 2025 season that had him as a more than credible NFL prospect.
Last season, Chambliss completed 294 of 448 passes (65.6%) for 3,934 yards (8.8 YPA), 22 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.9. He also ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards (4.5 YPA), eight touchdowns and three fumbles.
After that, Chambliss filed a lawsuit to contend the NCAA denying him an extra year of eligibility, and he won that case. Now that he has another developmental year before he tries the NFL on for size, what’s already on the ball, and what does he need to refine?
Let’s dive into the tape.
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
One of the most interesting things about Chambliss as a smaller, inherently mobile quarterback, is that he doesn’t need to leave the pocket to hit the middle of the field. Last season, when throwing to the middle of the field (directly to the middle; not middle left or middle right), Chambliss completed 46 of 70 passes for 825 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.0.
His 44.45 EPA on such throws was the NCAA’s 11th-best (minimum 50 attempts), and it’s one of the more NFL-ready parts of his game. Teams at the next level that work their passing games over the middle of the field (or want to do so) won’t have to take leave of that notion with Chambliss as their quarterback.
Winning outside the pocket
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
ISI Photos via Getty Images
On throws outside the pocket last season, Chambliss completed 37 of 64 passes for 500 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 97.1. Chambliss has a good sense of his own mechanics when he’s throwing on the move — the arm strength is enough for him to hit his targets when he has to throw off-platform, and when he rights his shoulders to the target, he’s capable of making some really nice downfield passes from a moving pocket.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 08: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels stiff-arms Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes in the first half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Chambliss has learned to deal with pressure very well — in 2025, he completed 44 of 81 passes when disrupted for 649 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.9. Chambliss’ yards per attempt average of 8.0 under pressure also tells you that he doesn’t automatically become Captain Checkdown when pressured. The aforementioned pocket movement helps him a lot in an NFL-conversant sense, and Chambliss has already served notice to defenses that if you blitz him, you will regret it.
Against five or more pass rushers last season, whether pressured or not, Chambliss completed 119 of 194 passes for 1,521 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.9, which has higher than his passer rating of 104.7 when he wasn’t blitzed.
You don’t see THAT too often. Chambliss will be relatively ready for an NFL that now looks to test quarterbacks with all kinds of stunts, games, and line movement, and he has anther year in college to refine that mastery.
Going through progressions
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) warms up before their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026.
Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
And while Chambliss did have the NCAA’s second-most RPO passing attempts last season with 94, behind only that Fernando Mendoza guy (who had 103 such attempts), Chambliss is similar to Mendoza in that he isn’t over-reliant on quick one-two RPO reads to get things done in the passing game.
On the kinds of throws that define the best quarterbacks at any level — the dig, corner, post, over, seam, and go routes — Chambliss completed 63 of 112 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 121.1, which ranked fourth in the NCAA among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts in the 2025 season. Chambliss can read through his second and third progressions with no problem; he won’t need his NFL coaches to break him down to the studs and start all over.
Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As you would expect, Chambliss’ mobility extends to his ability to make important plays as a runner, whether on designed plays or scrambles. Overall, he ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards, eight touchdowns, and three fumbles. Chambliss had 15 designed QB draw runs last season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per play with a touchdown.
I wouldn’t necessarily want to put Chambliss in the teeth of NFL defensive lines too often as a pure runner at his size — his coaches will need to be judicious about such things — but the rushing ability is just as good by design as it is when the play breaks down.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks at the press conference after the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
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Chambliss still needs development when it comes to the timing of his throws in the design of the route concepts — he’s not always an anticipation thrower, and that can get him into trouble. The three interceptions look nice in the box score, but there were also several turnover-worthy throws last season, where he threw late into converging coverage, and it was the luck of the draw that saved him.
The mechanics aren’t always consistent — Chambliss will get too cute at times when creating torque to throw, and he tries to do too much with his upper body. This “sticks” his lower body to the turf, and he (like most quarterbacks) can’t calculate the difference in direction and velocity when he does this.
The arm arrogance is justified, as Chambliss can throw with authority to all levels of the field, but he will also zing the ball into obvious coverage with the presumed thought that he’s above the law, so to speak. He isn’t, and it wouldn’t take too much for his interception luck to turn in 2026, and for that to become painfully obvious.
Chambliss doesn’t need to get outside the pocket to see the middle of the field, which is a notable attribute for any smaller quarterback, but there are times when he’ll leave the pocket when he doesn’t need to. He also doesn’t always square his shoulders to the target, which leads to other inaccuracies.
It’s great that Chambliss can vary his velocity and ball flight on command, but there are times when he throws fastballs when off-speed pitches are required, and vice versa.
Overall, I would have placed Chambliss high on my list of 2026 quarterback prospect list had he made himself available for the draft — most likely an early second
But I would not be at all surprised if Chambliss comes out of the 2026 season higher on the 2027 QB draft list than people may imagine at this point in time.

#season #Ole #impact #Trinidad #Chambliss #NFLreadiness">How will one more season with Ole Miss impact QB Trinidad Chambliss’ NFL-readiness?

When it comes to the 2027 quarterback class, hope springs eternal. Especially after a 2026 class that produced two first-rounders in Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, and a 2025 class that produced two in Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, the NFL prayer is that the 2027 group of signal-callers is more like the 2024 version, when there were three taken with the first three picks, six in the top 12, and four legit NFL starters in Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix. Even the relative stragglers (Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy) haven’t run entirely out of road when it comes to their NFL potential.

Ostensibly, the 2027 class looks absolutely ridiculous from a tools and potential perspective. We could have Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr, and Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby (depending on how Sorsby is affected by recent gambling allegations) all fighting to rest atop next year’s QB draft listings, and there are ways in which each one could do it. Not to mention the fact that there will be a surprise interloper who comes out of nowhere to show NFL potential.

That’s at least eight quarterbacks for NFL teams to consider next year. Of course, we also know that not every sure-thing prospect will ultimately become that even before he’s drafted; we’ve all seen the super-hyped guys fall down when they get hit without a plan.

The idea with this series is to evaluate each of the prominent future prospects with one eye on what they’ve already done, and the other on what they need to do in order to reach their ultimate ceiling. We continue the deep dive with Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, who fought to stay in school despite a 2025 season that had him as a more than credible NFL prospect.

Last season, Chambliss completed 294 of 448 passes (65.6%) for 3,934 yards (8.8 YPA), 22 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.9. He also ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards (4.5 YPA), eight touchdowns and three fumbles.

After that, Chambliss filed a lawsuit to contend the NCAA denying him an extra year of eligibility, and he won that case. Now that he has another developmental year before he tries the NFL on for size, what’s already on the ball, and what does he need to refine?

Let’s dive into the tape.

Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

One of the most interesting things about Chambliss as a smaller, inherently mobile quarterback, is that he doesn’t need to leave the pocket to hit the middle of the field. Last season, when throwing to the middle of the field (directly to the middle; not middle left or middle right), Chambliss completed 46 of 70 passes for 825 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.0.

His 44.45 EPA on such throws was the NCAA’s 11th-best (minimum 50 attempts), and it’s one of the more NFL-ready parts of his game. Teams at the next level that work their passing games over the middle of the field (or want to do so) won’t have to take leave of that notion with Chambliss as their quarterback.

Winning outside the pocket

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

ISI Photos via Getty Images

On throws outside the pocket last season, Chambliss completed 37 of 64 passes for 500 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 97.1. Chambliss has a good sense of his own mechanics when he’s throwing on the move — the arm strength is enough for him to hit his targets when he has to throw off-platform, and when he rights his shoulders to the target, he’s capable of making some really nice downfield passes from a moving pocket.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 08: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels stiff-arms Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes in the first half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

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Chambliss has learned to deal with pressure very well — in 2025, he completed 44 of 81 passes when disrupted for 649 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.9. Chambliss’ yards per attempt average of 8.0 under pressure also tells you that he doesn’t automatically become Captain Checkdown when pressured. The aforementioned pocket movement helps him a lot in an NFL-conversant sense, and Chambliss has already served notice to defenses that if you blitz him, you will regret it.

Against five or more pass rushers last season, whether pressured or not, Chambliss completed 119 of 194 passes for 1,521 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.9, which has higher than his passer rating of 104.7 when he wasn’t blitzed.

You don’t see THAT too often. Chambliss will be relatively ready for an NFL that now looks to test quarterbacks with all kinds of stunts, games, and line movement, and he has anther year in college to refine that mastery.

Going through progressions

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) warms up before their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026.

Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

And while Chambliss did have the NCAA’s second-most RPO passing attempts last season with 94, behind only that Fernando Mendoza guy (who had 103 such attempts), Chambliss is similar to Mendoza in that he isn’t over-reliant on quick one-two RPO reads to get things done in the passing game.

On the kinds of throws that define the best quarterbacks at any level — the dig, corner, post, over, seam, and go routes — Chambliss completed 63 of 112 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 121.1, which ranked fourth in the NCAA among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts in the 2025 season. Chambliss can read through his second and third progressions with no problem; he won’t need his NFL coaches to break him down to the studs and start all over.

Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

As you would expect, Chambliss’ mobility extends to his ability to make important plays as a runner, whether on designed plays or scrambles. Overall, he ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards, eight touchdowns, and three fumbles. Chambliss had 15 designed QB draw runs last season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per play with a touchdown.

I wouldn’t necessarily want to put Chambliss in the teeth of NFL defensive lines too often as a pure runner at his size — his coaches will need to be judicious about such things — but the rushing ability is just as good by design as it is when the play breaks down.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks at the press conference after the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Chambliss still needs development when it comes to the timing of his throws in the design of the route concepts — he’s not always an anticipation thrower, and that can get him into trouble. The three interceptions look nice in the box score, but there were also several turnover-worthy throws last season, where he threw late into converging coverage, and it was the luck of the draw that saved him.
The mechanics aren’t always consistent — Chambliss will get too cute at times when creating torque to throw, and he tries to do too much with his upper body. This “sticks” his lower body to the turf, and he (like most quarterbacks) can’t calculate the difference in direction and velocity when he does this.
The arm arrogance is justified, as Chambliss can throw with authority to all levels of the field, but he will also zing the ball into obvious coverage with the presumed thought that he’s above the law, so to speak. He isn’t, and it wouldn’t take too much for his interception luck to turn in 2026, and for that to become painfully obvious.
Chambliss doesn’t need to get outside the pocket to see the middle of the field, which is a notable attribute for any smaller quarterback, but there are times when he’ll leave the pocket when he doesn’t need to. He also doesn’t always square his shoulders to the target, which leads to other inaccuracies.
It’s great that Chambliss can vary his velocity and ball flight on command, but there are times when he throws fastballs when off-speed pitches are required, and vice versa.

Overall, I would have placed Chambliss high on my list of 2026 quarterback prospect list had he made himself available for the draft — most likely an early second

But I would not be at all surprised if Chambliss comes out of the 2026 season higher on the 2027 QB draft list than people may imagine at this point in time.

#season #Ole #impact #Trinidad #Chambliss #NFLreadiness

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Winning outside the pocket

Going through progressions

Winning outside the pocket

Going through progressions

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