Category: College Football

James Franklin Fired Up for Redemption at Virginia Tech

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4/2/2026

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James Franklin isn’t looking back—at least not for long. After a stunning fall from grace at Penn State in 2025, the veteran coach has landed at Virginia Tech with plans to turn frustration into fuel.

“I got a huge chip on my shoulder,” Franklin said to On3 Sports. “Kind of an unusual situation. Six games earlier, we’re playing for national championship. Now obviously some things happened that were in my control and I take total responsibility for that. But, yeah I got a big chip on my shoulder. Extremely motivated.”

Once a contender for the College Football Playoff crown, Penn State’s season unraveled fast. The Nittany Lions dropped three straight to fall to 3-3, a skid that ultimately cost Franklin his job. Despite leading the program to the 2024 CFP semifinal, his inability to beat elite opponents lingered—his record against top-10 teams sat at just 4-21.

Now, the 54-year-old coach is embracing his next challenge in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech hasn’t cracked 10 wins since 2012, and expectations are tempered for a program seeking renewed identity under new leadership. Franklin’s energy, however, suggests complacency won’t be an option.

“We got a lot of work to do,” Franklin said. “Most importantly, our players are driven, excited, and motivated. We got a really good core group of guys that stayed at Virginia Tech and guys that we brought from a number of other places too.”

The Hokies will kick off the 2026 campaign at home against VMI on September 5, a matchup that marks the official start of Franklin’s redemption story. For now, the message from Blacksburg is simple: the rebuild begins with belief.

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Florida State football DL enters final season looking to make noise

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3/27/2026

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It’s only his second year at Florida State, but Deante McCray already carries himself like a veteran on the Seminoles’ defensive line. In many respects, he is. Despite spending just one season in Tallahassee, the former Western Kentucky transfer has three years of college football experience and has accumulated 129 career tackles, including 12 tackles for loss. No other player on Florida State’s defensive line brings that level of production.

McCray expects to elevate his performance even further in 2026.

“I learned a lot last year,” McCray said as Florida State continued its second week of spring drills, as noted in an article by On3Sports’ Corey Clark. “I learned a lot about what it actually takes to be a D-Lineman. I learned a lot from Coach [Terrance] Knighton, and how to be an aggressive D-Lineman. Just attack and be relentless. Being relentless was the biggest thing I learned. Don’t let nothing stop you in your tracks. Being a more effective pass-rusher for sure. (source)

“He helped me hone in on my run-stopping skills as well. I’m grateful for that. I plan to dominate this season. That’s what I plan to do to help this team to a championship.”

To reach that level, McCray will need to surpass last season’s production. In his first year of Power 4 football, he appeared in 12 games for the Seminoles, making two starts and finishing with 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.

He demonstrated that he belongs at this level, serving as a consistent presence in the defensive line rotation throughout the season. This year, however, McCray aims to be more than a rotational player. He is determined to earn a starting role and believes he has the potential to become a standout.

“Now, I know the defense in and out,” McCray said. “I’m flying around. No more thinking. Just wreak havoc. Make plays. Celebrate with my teammates, catching wins and help bring this team to championships. Like I said, I’m ready to dominate. I’m more comfortable than I’ve ever been here, and I plan to showcase that this year.”

McCray has been working at multiple positions along the defensive line, embracing versatility, though he expects most of his playing time to come on the interior.

When asked about his offseason goals as he approaches his final season of college football, his focus remained straightforward.

“Just keep getting better,” McCray said. “Because I can always improve at something. Even if I’m doing something good, I can always improve at something. Get better at my run-stopping ability, my pass-rush ability. All of that.”

He will also benefit from another season under Knighton, a former NFL veteran entering his second year as Florida State’s defensive line coach.

“He’s succeeded where I’m trying to get to, which is ultimately the NFL,” McCray said. “So, I listen to everything he has to say as far as technique-wise, as far as get-offs, all of that. He’s taught me a lot. When I first transferred in, I didn’t even know half this stuff existed in terms of mindset, ways of thinking of getting to the quarterback.

“So, it’s been a blessing to have him as my coach.”

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Clemson lands rising 4-star LB Bryce Kish in 2027 class

Clemson football may have landed a major building block for its future defense. Four-star linebacker Bryce Kish reportedly committed to the Tigers, according to On3 & Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett. (source)

The fast-rising 2027 prospect from Michigan has emerged as one of the most intriguing defensive athletes in his class. His commitment would represent a significant early win for Clemson’s recruiting efforts as the program continues building its next generation of defensive playmakers.

Kish stands around 6-foot-4 and weighs roughly 210–220 pounds. He pairs that length with rare straight-line speed for a linebacker. Reports indicate he has run an 11.1-second 100-meter dash and carries 4.5-range speed in the 40-yard dash. That combination makes him a unique hybrid defender capable of covering ground quickly.

The Michigan standout also plays both ways in high school, lining up as a running back and defensive playmaker. On offense, Kish is known as a physical runner who is difficult to bring down in open space. Defensively, he flashes range, length, and fluid movement skills that allow him to operate effectively in coverage or pursuit.

Recruiting services recently elevated Kish into four-star territory after a breakout stretch that boosted his national ranking. Several Power Four programs had already shown strong interest, including Michigan State, Michigan, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers, and Louisville.

Reports indicate Clemson extended an offer during its Elite Retreat recruiting weekend. That annual event often serves as a launching point for new priority targets across the board.

If Kish’s commitment holds, it would represent a high-upside addition to Clemson’s future linebacker pipeline. His size and speed project well in modern defensive systems that prioritize versatility and space defenders.

For Clemson, adding a long, athletic linebacker like Kish could help strengthen the defensive ceiling in future recruiting classes. His developmental upside and multi-position skill set make him the type of prospect capable of growing into a major defensive contributor once he arrives on campus.

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UGA DB KJ Bolden Named to Way-Too-Early All-American Team

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Georgia football is set to return significant experience in 2026. The Bulldogs leaned heavily on a young roster in 2025, yet still captured their second straight SEC Championship before seeing their season end in the Sugar Bowl. It marked the second consecutive year Georgia exited the postseason in its opening playoff game, a result that shapes both expectations and urgency moving forward.

One of those returners, KJ Bolden, is already drawing national attention and is widely viewed as one of the top defensive players in the country. That projection was reinforced Tuesday when On3 named him to its Way-Too-Early All-American Team.


Bolden enters his third season with Georgia having already logged more than 1,000 snaps in his career. He played 482 snaps across 14 games as a freshman in 2024, then followed that with 596 snaps as a sophomore. That total likely would have been higher if not for a first-half ejection for targeting late in the Florida game.

He wrapped up his sophomore campaign as Georgia’s second-leading tackler, finishing with 76 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and five pass breakups, along with two interceptions. Bolden also made his presence felt on special teams, blocking a punt against Marshall in the season opener.

As a freshman, he showed similar all-around impact, totaling 59 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and an interception.

Coming out of high school, Bolden arrived with elite credentials. He ranked as the No. 1 safety in the nation according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a composite metric that aggregates evaluations from all major recruiting services. He also finished as the No. 14 overall prospect nationally and the top-ranked player in the state of Georgia, earning a five-star designation by the end of the cycle.

He’ll anchor a secondary that Georgia strengthened through the transfer portal. The Bulldogs added veteran safeties Khalil Barnes from Clemson and Ja’Marley Riddle from East Carolina, both of whom will compete with younger options for the role next to Bolden.

Georgia also upgraded at corner by bringing in playmaker Gentry Williams from Oklahoma, while returning experienced corners Ellis Robinson IV and Demello Jones. Sophomore STAR/nickel Rasean Dinkins, who started the final two games of the season, is back as well, giving the Bulldogs depth and versatility across the secondary heading into 2026.

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Ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore appears in court as new dates are set

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Josh Davis

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Sherrone Moore, the former football coach of the Michigan Wolverines football team, appeared in court on Thursday for a probable cause case hearing. The charges against him included third-degree home invasion, a felony, as well as misdemeanor charges of stalking and breaking and entering.

The court resolved to postpone the case until at least the following month, rather than to decide whether or not to advance it, according to ESPN. His attorneys submitted a motion on Thursday to quash Moore’s arrest warrant, rendering it invalid for the duration of the proceedings. Moore’s attorneys scheduled a probable cause conference for March 19 and a hearing on that motion for February 17. (Source)

Moore’s legal team also stated that they are anticipating the receipt of documents, including phone records and Title IX documents, as part of the discovery process.

Moore and his wife, Kelli Moore, entered the courtroom while he was dressed in a suit. The hearing lasted less than 15 minutes, with the majority of the time devoted to a discussion between Moore’s lawyer, the prosecution, and the judge regarding scheduling and documents. Moore provided only his name in response to the judge’s inquiry.

The former Michigan quarterback was arraigned on December 12 and has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. The charges were allegedly based on the events of December 10, the day Moore was terminated.

Moore was terminated on December 10 for making untruthful statements during investigative interviews and engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, as indicated by a termination letter from Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel. The female staff member, later identified as Paige Shivers, disclosed their relationship to the university and attempted to break off contact with Moore two days prior to his termination, according to prosecutors. According to the prosecution, the woman received an abundance of unwanted text messages and phone calls from Moore subsequent to her efforts to cut off communication.


Moore entered Paige Shiver’s unlocked apartment at approximately 4 p.m. on the day he was terminated, took butter knives and a pair of kitchen scissors from a drawer, and threatened to take his life, according to police and prosecutors. He was apprehended by law enforcement approximately one hour later in the parking lot of the Well Church in Saline, Michigan. He was incarcerated in the Washtenaw County Jail for two nights. After his arraignment, he was released on a $25,000 bond and was required to remain tethered to a GPS and undergo mental health treatment.

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Elite Florida WR makes big 2026 commitment to Miami Hurricanes

The Hurricanes added a major offensive weapon to their 2026 recruiting class on July 17, 2025, when four-star wide receiver Somourian Wingo announced his verbal commitment to Miami.

Wingo made his decision public at a ceremony inside the media center at St. Augustine High School in St. Augustine, Florida. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound wideout chose the Hurricanes over Florida and South Carolina, with Alabama also reportedly in the mix.

A consensus four-star recruit, Wingo is ranked No. 160 nationally and No. 24 at his position by 247Sports. He’s also listed among the top 30 players in the state of Florida across several major outlets.

The commitment marks a significant win for head coach Mario Cristobal and his staff, who remained in constant contact with Wingo throughout the recruiting cycle. According to the standout junior, Miami’s effort to stay involved—even during staff vacations—was a key reason for his decision. It was further announced by On3’s Hayes Fawcett on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the 4-star is headed to the 305.

“They told me that they were going to do whatever it takes to land me,” Wingo said. “They continued to call me, to work, stay in contact. A lot of coaches go on vacation, but Miami stayed in contact with me and they just showed that I really mattered to them.”

Wingo also cited the culture, staff relationships, and love for the city of Miami as deciding factors.

“I love everyone there, and I built a relationship with everyone from the staff to the players and assistants,” he said. “I love the culture too. That was another reason why I chose Miami. How everything is operated in Miami is something I like too. Then it is the city… I love that too. Who doesn’t?”

The talented wideout becomes the 21st commit in the Hurricanes’ 2026 class, which currently ranks No. 10 nationally.

Wingo is coming off a dominant junior season in which he posted over 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, helping lead St. Augustine to the FHSAA Class 4A semifinal. He also stars on the basketball court, averaging 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and over 3 steals per game, earning All-First Coast second-team honors.

Known for his polished route running, contested catch ability, and above-the-rim athleticism, Wingo projects as a versatile Power Four playmaker who can line up inside or outside.

With his commitment, Miami adds a dynamic in-state talent to an already impressive 2026 group — and strengthens its future at wide receiver.

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