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Indian sports wrap, April 19: Aditi Ashok cards 69 to move to T-36 in Los Angeles  GOLFAditi Ashok cards 69 to move to T-36 in Los AngelesIndia’s Aditi Ashok fought back with three birdies on the back nine to move up to tied 36th place with a third-round card of 3-under 69 at the JM Eagle Los Angeles Championship.Aditi birdied the sixth but gave it back on the Par-5 seventh. On the back nine, she birdied the 11th and added two more gains on the 16th and the 18th for a 69, after 70-72 on the first two days.Korea’s Sei Young Kim led by two following a roller-coaster round of 71. She had five birdies on the front and ran up an eight-stroke lead with five holes left at El Caballero Country Club.She then bogeyed four times in a row the 14th to the 17th. Her late meltdown with four straight bogeys gave two-time event winner Hannah Green and others a foot in the door.She salvaged an up-and-down from off the back of the 18th green to salvage a two-shot advantage.Kim (71) is 15-under, while Green, the 2023 and 2024 champion at Wilshire Country Club, had a 67 to join Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (67), Jessica Porvasnik (68) and Ina Yoon (71) at 13 under. Former UCLA star Patty Tavatanakit was another stroke back after a 67.– PTIPranavi shoots 3-under to move to 30th place in JoburgPranavi Urs, the lone Indian in the weekend rounds, carded 3-under 70 to rise up to the 30th place at the Joburg Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.After 70-74 on the first two days, she had six birdies against three bogeys and reached 5-under for 54 holes and was placed a respectable T-30th in the Euros 330,000 event.The other Indian golfers, Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik, Avani Prashanth and Hitaashee Bakshi, missed the 36-hole cut at the Par-73 course measuring 6710 yards.Three French golfers, all past winners on Ladies European Tour (LET), Camille Chevalier, Celine Herbin and Agathe Laisne went low on moving day at Randpark Golf Club. They will now play in the final group.Chevalier and Herbin lead the way on 16-under par after carding rounds of 67 (-6) and 68 (-5) respectively in South Africa.– PTITENNISBalaji-Oberleitner pair wins Challenger title in PortugalIndia’s N Sriram Balaji and his Austrian partner Neil Oberleitner won the doubles title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Oeiras, Portugal, on Saturday.The third-seeded Indo-Austrian duo beat Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia and Ariel Behar of Uruguay 6-7(7), 6-4, [11-9] in the final after saving a match point in the super tiebreak. The pair gained 125 ranking points.It is the 18th career title on the second-tier challenger tour for Balaji and fourth in 2026 with Oberleitner.Vaidehee Chaudhari and Dutch player Jasmijn Gimbrere finished as runner-up at the women’s USD 40,000 ITF event in Bujumbura, Burundi. The duo lost 4-6, 7-5, [10-5] to the American-Dutch pair of Julia Adams and Merel Hoedt.On the junior circuit, teen sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran defeated Spain’s Paola Pinera Celorio 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to clinch the J300 title in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, while Arnav Paparkar beat Japan’s Kanta Watanabe 6-1, 6-2 in the J200 final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.– Team SportstarPublished on Apr 19, 2026  #Indian #sports #wrap #April #Aditi #Ashok #cards #move #T36 #Los #Angeles

Indian sports wrap, April 19: Aditi Ashok cards 69 to move to T-36 in Los Angeles

GOLF

Aditi Ashok cards 69 to move to T-36 in Los Angeles

India’s Aditi Ashok fought back with three birdies on the back nine to move up to tied 36th place with a third-round card of 3-under 69 at the JM Eagle Los Angeles Championship.

Aditi birdied the sixth but gave it back on the Par-5 seventh. On the back nine, she birdied the 11th and added two more gains on the 16th and the 18th for a 69, after 70-72 on the first two days.

Korea’s Sei Young Kim led by two following a roller-coaster round of 71. She had five birdies on the front and ran up an eight-stroke lead with five holes left at El Caballero Country Club.

She then bogeyed four times in a row the 14th to the 17th. Her late meltdown with four straight bogeys gave two-time event winner Hannah Green and others a foot in the door.

She salvaged an up-and-down from off the back of the 18th green to salvage a two-shot advantage.

Kim (71) is 15-under, while Green, the 2023 and 2024 champion at Wilshire Country Club, had a 67 to join Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (67), Jessica Porvasnik (68) and Ina Yoon (71) at 13 under. Former UCLA star Patty Tavatanakit was another stroke back after a 67.

– PTI

Pranavi shoots 3-under to move to 30th place in Joburg

Pranavi Urs, the lone Indian in the weekend rounds, carded 3-under 70 to rise up to the 30th place at the Joburg Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.

After 70-74 on the first two days, she had six birdies against three bogeys and reached 5-under for 54 holes and was placed a respectable T-30th in the Euros 330,000 event.

The other Indian golfers, Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik, Avani Prashanth and Hitaashee Bakshi, missed the 36-hole cut at the Par-73 course measuring 6710 yards.

Three French golfers, all past winners on Ladies European Tour (LET), Camille Chevalier, Celine Herbin and Agathe Laisne went low on moving day at Randpark Golf Club. They will now play in the final group.

Chevalier and Herbin lead the way on 16-under par after carding rounds of 67 (-6) and 68 (-5) respectively in South Africa.

– PTI

TENNIS

Balaji-Oberleitner pair wins Challenger title in Portugal

India’s N Sriram Balaji and his Austrian partner Neil Oberleitner won the doubles title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Oeiras, Portugal, on Saturday.

The third-seeded Indo-Austrian duo beat Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia and Ariel Behar of Uruguay 6-7(7), 6-4, [11-9] in the final after saving a match point in the super tiebreak. The pair gained 125 ranking points.

It is the 18th career title on the second-tier challenger tour for Balaji and fourth in 2026 with Oberleitner.

Vaidehee Chaudhari and Dutch player Jasmijn Gimbrere finished as runner-up at the women’s USD 40,000 ITF event in Bujumbura, Burundi. The duo lost 4-6, 7-5, [10-5] to the American-Dutch pair of Julia Adams and Merel Hoedt.

On the junior circuit, teen sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran defeated Spain’s Paola Pinera Celorio 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to clinch the J300 title in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, while Arnav Paparkar beat Japan’s Kanta Watanabe 6-1, 6-2 in the J200 final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

– Team Sportstar

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Indian #sports #wrap #April #Aditi #Ashok #cards #move #T36 #Los #Angeles

GOLF

Aditi Ashok cards 69 to move to T-36 in Los Angeles

India’s Aditi Ashok fought back with three birdies on the back nine to move up to tied 36th place with a third-round card of 3-under 69 at the JM Eagle Los Angeles Championship.

Aditi birdied the sixth but gave it back on the Par-5 seventh. On the back nine, she birdied the 11th and added two more gains on the 16th and the 18th for a 69, after 70-72 on the first two days.

Korea’s Sei Young Kim led by two following a roller-coaster round of 71. She had five birdies on the front and ran up an eight-stroke lead with five holes left at El Caballero Country Club.

She then bogeyed four times in a row the 14th to the 17th. Her late meltdown with four straight bogeys gave two-time event winner Hannah Green and others a foot in the door.

She salvaged an up-and-down from off the back of the 18th green to salvage a two-shot advantage.

Kim (71) is 15-under, while Green, the 2023 and 2024 champion at Wilshire Country Club, had a 67 to join Suvichaya Vinijchaitham (67), Jessica Porvasnik (68) and Ina Yoon (71) at 13 under. Former UCLA star Patty Tavatanakit was another stroke back after a 67.

– PTI

Pranavi shoots 3-under to move to 30th place in Joburg

Pranavi Urs, the lone Indian in the weekend rounds, carded 3-under 70 to rise up to the 30th place at the Joburg Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.

After 70-74 on the first two days, she had six birdies against three bogeys and reached 5-under for 54 holes and was placed a respectable T-30th in the Euros 330,000 event.

The other Indian golfers, Diksha Dagar, Tvesa Malik, Avani Prashanth and Hitaashee Bakshi, missed the 36-hole cut at the Par-73 course measuring 6710 yards.

Three French golfers, all past winners on Ladies European Tour (LET), Camille Chevalier, Celine Herbin and Agathe Laisne went low on moving day at Randpark Golf Club. They will now play in the final group.

Chevalier and Herbin lead the way on 16-under par after carding rounds of 67 (-6) and 68 (-5) respectively in South Africa.

– PTI

TENNIS

Balaji-Oberleitner pair wins Challenger title in Portugal

India’s N Sriram Balaji and his Austrian partner Neil Oberleitner won the doubles title at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Oeiras, Portugal, on Saturday.

The third-seeded Indo-Austrian duo beat Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia and Ariel Behar of Uruguay 6-7(7), 6-4, [11-9] in the final after saving a match point in the super tiebreak. The pair gained 125 ranking points.

It is the 18th career title on the second-tier challenger tour for Balaji and fourth in 2026 with Oberleitner.

Vaidehee Chaudhari and Dutch player Jasmijn Gimbrere finished as runner-up at the women’s USD 40,000 ITF event in Bujumbura, Burundi. The duo lost 4-6, 7-5, [10-5] to the American-Dutch pair of Julia Adams and Merel Hoedt.

On the junior circuit, teen sensation Maaya Rajeshwaran defeated Spain’s Paola Pinera Celorio 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to clinch the J300 title in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France, while Arnav Paparkar beat Japan’s Kanta Watanabe 6-1, 6-2 in the J200 final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

– Team Sportstar

Published on Apr 19, 2026

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Deadspin | Orioles contact-less lineup tries for better results vs. Guardians <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28729478.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28729478.jpg" alt="MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Baltimore Orioles" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (17) reacts to an inside pitch during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>There was a glaring lack of contact from Baltimore Orioles’ hitters on Saturday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The Orioles had four hits — two of them homers — while striking out a stunning 16 times.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Baltimore will look to have their bats smack the ball more often in Sunday’s finale of a four-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Guardians have won two of the first three games, including Saturday’s 4-2 victory when right-hander Gavin Williams dominated the Orioles.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Williams struck out 11 in seven innings and allowed one run, three hits and one walk. He leads the majors with 40 strikeouts.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>“That’s not the biggest goal for me,” Williams said of the strikeouts. “I’m just trying to help the team win games. It’s cool, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have to punch that many people out. I’m just trying to win games.”</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Meanwhile, Baltimore’s Pete Alonso and Colton Cowser struck out in all four at-bats and Dylan Beavers fanned three times on Saturday.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>That breeze inside the ballpark wasn’t necessarily coming from the nearby lake.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Orioles manager Craig Albernaz pointed to Williams’ dominance as the reason for Alonso and Cowser’s difficulties.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>“They couldn’t see the breaking ball early enough to either make an adjustment or hold off on it,” Albernaz said.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Alonzo was the club’s marquee offseason acquisition and signed a five-year, $155 million contract. But so far, he has fizzled with a .208 average, two homers and eight RBIs to go with 26 strikeouts in 78 at-bats.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>Cowser has yet to go deep and is batting .178 with 16 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft continues to struggle with big-league pitching.</p> </section> <section id="section-13"> <p>“Colton, he’s our guy, and he has to figure it out how he wants to approach guys and what he’s trying to feel,” Albernaz said. “But with Colton at the plate, he’s dangerous. He’s a guy where, if he’s not feeling great, he can still get one pitch and do damage on, and that’s something where we feel very confident in.”</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson hit the homers for Baltimore’s runs.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>All of Cleveland’s runs also came on homers on Saturday. Brayan Rocchio smacked a three-run homer and Bo Naylor hit a solo blast.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>Rocchio said a more patient approach is paying off for him. He has three homers in 63 at-bats after having five in 344 at-bats in 2025.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>“That’s impressive for me, too,” Rocchio said. “Last year, I was struggling at hitting. Now I’m able to help the team with my at-bats and to see more pitches is pretty cool.”</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 2.61 ERA) will start the finale for the Guardians.</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>Cantillo, 26, received a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday when he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. Both runs came on solo homers.</p> </section><section id="section-20"> <p>Cantillo is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four appearances (two starts) against Baltimore. Cowser is 2-for-4 with one strikeout against Cantillo.</p> </section><section id="section-21"> <p>Left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-1, 3.04) will take the mound for Baltimore.</p> </section><section id="section-22"> <p>Rogers, 28, was roughed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday and took the loss. He gave up four runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.</p> </section><section id="section-23"> <p>Rogers is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against the Guardians. Rhys Hoskins is 9-for-21 (.429) with four homers off Rogers while David Fry (1-for-4) also has taken him deep.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-24"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Orioles #contactless #lineup #results #Guardians

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Deadspin | Luke Kennard scores 27, Lakers take Game 1 against Rockets <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28763833.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28763833.jpg" alt="NBA: Playoffs-Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Kennard (10) shoots the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) in the first half during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Luke Kennard scored 27 points and LeBron James added 19 points with 13 assists as the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers earned a 107-98 victory over the visiting Houston Rockets on Saturday in Game 1 of a Western Conference first-round playoff series.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Deandre Ayton scored 19 points with 11 rebounds and Marcus Smart added 15 points with eight assists as the fourth-seeded Lakers won with leading scorers Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) watching from the bench.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>In just his seventh start since joining the Lakers from the Atlanta Hawks at the trade deadline, Kennard went 9 of 13 from the floor and 5 of 5 from 3-point range while delivering a season high in points to fill the scoring void at guard.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Alperen Sengun scored 19 points while Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard each added 17 for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who were playing without leading scorer Kevin Durant (knee).</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 points with 12 rebounds and Tari Eason also had 16 points for Houston, which has lost three consecutive road games to Los Angeles since the middle of March.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Lakers shot 60.6% from the floor and 52.6% from 3-point range, while the Rockets shot 37.6% and 33.3% respectively.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>Kennard helped put the Rockets away with three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. His second of the final period capped a 13-3 run and gave the Lakers an 88-72 lead with 7:58 remaining.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>James made a turnaround hook inside with 4:43 remaining to put Los Angeles up 96-80. The 41-year-old added a fadeaway jumper with 2:57 remaining for a 98-84 lead.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Houston was within 100-91 with 1:40 remaining on a dunk from Thompson before Ayton put the game away for Los Angeles on a three-point play with 1:04 left for a 105-93 lead.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>The Lakers shot 70.6% from the floor in the fourth quarter and 56.2% in the second half.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>The Rockets finished with a 44-35 rebounding advantage.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>The Lakers got off to a fast start, leading by eight points in the first quarter, when James had eight assists, and took a 33-29 lead after the opening period. Los Angeles led 50-48 at the half on 64.7% shooting from the floor as Ayton scored 12 points. Sengun had 11 at the half for Houston.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Luke #Kennard #scores #Lakers #Game #Rockets

Olympic hockey medallist Gurbax Singh Grewal passed away on Friday following a heart attack in Zirakpur.

Grewal, who was part of the Indian team that secured a bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, died at the age of 84.

In a rare distinction, he represented India at the same Olympics alongside his brother Balbir Singh Grewal, marking one of the few instances of siblings featuring together in the national hockey side at the Games.

Beyond his playing career, Grewal served as a senior sports officer with Western Railways, where he played a key role in identifying and inducting talent, including several players from Rajasthan, into the Railways hockey setup.

After retiring from service in Mumbai, he remained actively involved in the sport’s administration, serving as honorary secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Gurbax #Singh #Grewal #member #bronze #medallist #Indian #hockey #team #Olympics #passes">Gurbax Singh Grewal, member of bronze medallist Indian hockey team from 1968 Olympics, passes away  Olympic hockey medallist Gurbax Singh Grewal passed away on Friday following a heart attack in Zirakpur.Grewal, who was part of the Indian team that secured a bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, died at the age of 84.In a rare distinction, he represented India at the same Olympics alongside his brother Balbir Singh Grewal, marking one of the few instances of siblings featuring together in the national hockey side at the Games.Beyond his playing career, Grewal served as a senior sports officer with Western Railways, where he played a key role in identifying and inducting talent, including several players from Rajasthan, into the Railways hockey setup.After retiring from service in Mumbai, he remained actively involved in the sport’s administration, serving as honorary secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association.Published on Apr 25, 2026  #Gurbax #Singh #Grewal #member #bronze #medallist #Indian #hockey #team #Olympics #passes

Deadspin | 2026 NFL Draft: Best available on Day 3  Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (DB20) speaks to media members during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images   On Saturday, we enter into the longest day of the draft, the marathon third day of the proceedings, comprising of rounds 4-7. Many gems have been discovered from this period, including franchise quarterbacks like Tom Brady, game-changing wideouts like Amon-Ra St. Brown, and crazy physical specimens like Tariq Woolen. Here are some of the players who could fit that bill in this draft class.  Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss — Likely to still be on the board because of his character concerns, Harris certainly plays like someone who could have gone Day 2. With his hulking size (the rare defensive tackle who measures in over 6-foot-7 on a good day) and his impressive pass-rush numbers, a team that’s willing to take the chance on the persona could find themselves with a cornerstone defensive player.  Kyle Louis, S/LB, Pittsburgh — Perhaps Louis’ positional versatility is causing him to drop further than one would expect. Ever since the Isaiah Simmons days, teams seem more and more thrown off by guys who don’t have an immediate fit on their defense. They’re limiting themselves when it comes to Louis, though. His instincts and quick ability to turn toward the ball and pick up cleanup tackles is unmatched. It’s hard to get guys with true starter upside in Day 3.  Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas — Washington’s athleticism is some of the craziest in the class. When you’re 6-foot-1 and carrying over 230 pounds of weight behind you, it’s just not natural to run as fast as Washington does. Though he lacks third-down upside, with development and training, Washington has all the tools to develop into a top-tier starting running back if he’s given patience. Just don’t ask Washington to do too much receiving work too early… or blocking. Just hand the ball off to him; don’t overthink it.   Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Something must be very wrong with McCoy’s knee if he’s still on the board this late in the game. There have been rumors of bone spurs and multiple surgeries floating around and it’s all very much in flux. At his best, McCoy could have been the top cornerback in the class, but his bill of health just isn’t clean. At some point, he has to come off the board, but there must be something we don’t know about that has teams playing scared.  Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina — Kilgore was a former top 50 projected player who could slot in perfectly as a nickel back for a team that needs it. The problem is, the nickel cornerback situations around the league are pretty much sorted right now. This means that teams drafting for best player available might have to keep their eye on guys like Kilgore, who are alignment specific, to pick up value. His coverage skills are hard to find this late.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NFL #Draft #DayFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (DB20) speaks to media members during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

On Saturday, we enter into the longest day of the draft, the marathon third day of the proceedings, comprising of rounds 4-7. Many gems have been discovered from this period, including franchise quarterbacks like Tom Brady, game-changing wideouts like Amon-Ra St. Brown, and crazy physical specimens like Tariq Woolen. Here are some of the players who could fit that bill in this draft class.

Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss — Likely to still be on the board because of his character concerns, Harris certainly plays like someone who could have gone Day 2. With his hulking size (the rare defensive tackle who measures in over 6-foot-7 on a good day) and his impressive pass-rush numbers, a team that’s willing to take the chance on the persona could find themselves with a cornerstone defensive player.

Kyle Louis, S/LB, Pittsburgh — Perhaps Louis’ positional versatility is causing him to drop further than one would expect. Ever since the Isaiah Simmons days, teams seem more and more thrown off by guys who don’t have an immediate fit on their defense. They’re limiting themselves when it comes to Louis, though. His instincts and quick ability to turn toward the ball and pick up cleanup tackles is unmatched. It’s hard to get guys with true starter upside in Day 3.


Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas — Washington’s athleticism is some of the craziest in the class. When you’re 6-foot-1 and carrying over 230 pounds of weight behind you, it’s just not natural to run as fast as Washington does. Though he lacks third-down upside, with development and training, Washington has all the tools to develop into a top-tier starting running back if he’s given patience. Just don’t ask Washington to do too much receiving work too early… or blocking. Just hand the ball off to him; don’t overthink it.

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Something must be very wrong with McCoy’s knee if he’s still on the board this late in the game. There have been rumors of bone spurs and multiple surgeries floating around and it’s all very much in flux. At his best, McCoy could have been the top cornerback in the class, but his bill of health just isn’t clean. At some point, he has to come off the board, but there must be something we don’t know about that has teams playing scared.

Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina — Kilgore was a former top 50 projected player who could slot in perfectly as a nickel back for a team that needs it. The problem is, the nickel cornerback situations around the league are pretty much sorted right now. This means that teams drafting for best player available might have to keep their eye on guys like Kilgore, who are alignment specific, to pick up value. His coverage skills are hard to find this late.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NFL #Draft #Day">Deadspin | 2026 NFL Draft: Best available on Day 3  Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (DB20) speaks to media members during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images   On Saturday, we enter into the longest day of the draft, the marathon third day of the proceedings, comprising of rounds 4-7. Many gems have been discovered from this period, including franchise quarterbacks like Tom Brady, game-changing wideouts like Amon-Ra St. Brown, and crazy physical specimens like Tariq Woolen. Here are some of the players who could fit that bill in this draft class.  Zxavian Harris, DT, Ole Miss — Likely to still be on the board because of his character concerns, Harris certainly plays like someone who could have gone Day 2. With his hulking size (the rare defensive tackle who measures in over 6-foot-7 on a good day) and his impressive pass-rush numbers, a team that’s willing to take the chance on the persona could find themselves with a cornerstone defensive player.  Kyle Louis, S/LB, Pittsburgh — Perhaps Louis’ positional versatility is causing him to drop further than one would expect. Ever since the Isaiah Simmons days, teams seem more and more thrown off by guys who don’t have an immediate fit on their defense. They’re limiting themselves when it comes to Louis, though. His instincts and quick ability to turn toward the ball and pick up cleanup tackles is unmatched. It’s hard to get guys with true starter upside in Day 3.  Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas — Washington’s athleticism is some of the craziest in the class. When you’re 6-foot-1 and carrying over 230 pounds of weight behind you, it’s just not natural to run as fast as Washington does. Though he lacks third-down upside, with development and training, Washington has all the tools to develop into a top-tier starting running back if he’s given patience. Just don’t ask Washington to do too much receiving work too early… or blocking. Just hand the ball off to him; don’t overthink it.   Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Something must be very wrong with McCoy’s knee if he’s still on the board this late in the game. There have been rumors of bone spurs and multiple surgeries floating around and it’s all very much in flux. At his best, McCoy could have been the top cornerback in the class, but his bill of health just isn’t clean. At some point, he has to come off the board, but there must be something we don’t know about that has teams playing scared.  Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina — Kilgore was a former top 50 projected player who could slot in perfectly as a nickel back for a team that needs it. The problem is, the nickel cornerback situations around the league are pretty much sorted right now. This means that teams drafting for best player available might have to keep their eye on guys like Kilgore, who are alignment specific, to pick up value. His coverage skills are hard to find this late.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NFL #Draft #Day

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