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Miami DE Bryan Pata killed in shooting

Jurors deadlock, judge declares mistrial in Miami football murder case​

A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the murder trial of former Miami Hurricanes player Rashaun Jones, accused of the shooting of teammate Bryan Pata in 2006.

About an hour after the six jurors began their second day of deliberations, Florida 11th Circuit Judge Cristina Miranda came into the courtroom to address the attorneys, reading a statement from the jurors: "At this point we are deadlocked with no one willing to move." Miranda instructed them to keep trying, but after about another hour, they again said they could not render a verdict.

Afterward, one jury member who asked to remain anonymous told ESPN that only one of the six jurors wanted to convict Jones.
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Alvarez said the defense will "certainly try" to introduce new evidence at a retrial. Miranda, who ruled against most defense motions regarding other possible theories in the case, apparently would preside once again.

Pata's brother Edwin spoke for the victim's family saying, "Bryan would want us to continue to press, to continue to fight, to continue to stay strong, and that's what we're going to do.
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CB Marshon Lattimore (2017 NFL Def ROY, 4x Pro Bowl, Washington Commanders)

Sources: Commanders to release CB Marshon Lattimore, save $18.5M​

The Washington Commanders informed cornerback Marshon Lattimore that he will be released before the league year begins next week, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, a move that had been expected since Lattimore suffered a season-ending injury in November.

The new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. The Commanders will save $18.5 million in salary cap space; they currently have the fifth-most space available. Washington is expected to be aggressive on the free agent market, particularly at corner, according to league sources.
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Matt Barnes (Special Teams, Maryland)

Barnes joined Mississippi State in 2024 after previously serving as the defensive coordinator at Memphis and in roles at Ohio State and Maryland.

Former Ohio State DC gets a coaching job at Maryland​

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Barnes has left the Bulldogs in order to take a job at Maryland. He is back in the Big Ten, as is now the new special teams coordinator for the Terps. He is back in the Big Ten after five years away.
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S Vonn Bell (All B1G, All-American, National Champion)

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Bell has actually been with the Buffaloes since last year, but had not formally been announced as a member of Colorado’s coaching staff until Saturday. His promotion to safeties coach comes after former Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who doubled as Colorado’s safeties coach, left the Buffaloes to be the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach for the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

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Week 2 Game Discussion Thread

Ohio State lax player now LB for Okie, @sparcboxbuck

Ohio State football team had future NFL Draft prospect playing the wrong sport

The Buckeyes had this prospect playing a completely different sport when he was on campus.

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No other program has as many defensive prospects that will be drafted in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft as the Ohio State football program. They will likely have four players drafted in the first round. There's an outside chance that side of the ball sees six players drafted that high.

The Buckeyes were one of the best teams in the country this past season. They started the season 12-0 before falling apart in the final two weeks. Oklahoma made the 12-team College Football Playoff for the first time. Owen Heinecke was a key member of the Sooners' defense.

Heinecke started his career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, but he wasn't on the football team. In fact, he played lacrosse with the Buckeyes for one season before transferring to Oklahoma to be a preferred walk-on. Heinecke let everyone know how close he was to playing football for the Buckeyes.

Owen Heinecke asked about joining the Ohio State football program

Heinecke explained the process of going through his time at Ohio State and whether or not he thought about playing football for the Buckeyes.

"I did. Unfortunately, they were taking my lacrosse scholarship because I was stepping away from lacrosse, and out-of-state tuition was just a little bit too much for me and my family."

Instead, Heinecke ended up transferring back home to Oklahoma to play football. He only entered the draft because the NCAA denied his waiver to play an additional year with the Sooners. They deemed the year he played lacrosse counted as a year of eligibility.

Now, Heinecke will try to get drafted out of Oklahoma. Had he played football for the Buckeyes, it would have been hard for him to see the field. Both Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are going to be first-round picks, so it would have been hard for him to play snaps ahead of either player.

Heinecke only started one year in his collegiate career, totaling 74 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble in 2025.
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Army -2.5 at Navy, Week 15

I'd be just as likely to watch it Thanksgiving weekend (as long as it isn't noon on Saturday) as I would any other time.
I like the tradition of the Army-Navy game, but it really isn't big on my mind. Put it Thursday, and I'm probably watching the NFL games. Put it on Friday, and yeah, maybe. Saturday after The Game, and yeah, maybe. Put it any other weekend, and yeah, I might watch it.
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Buckeye Cruise for Cancer


WELL DONE, BUCKEYES. Dom Tiberi’s interview with Ryan Day came during the penultimate day of the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer. Tiberi reported that the 2026 voyage raised $4.6 million for The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.

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In 19 years, the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer has raised over $48 million for cancer research.

Well done, Buckeyes!
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DE Mitchell Melton (National Champion, transfer to Virginia)

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Top Performers​

Mitchell Melton, DE, Virginia​

45 tackles, 10 TFL, 5 sacks, 3 FF, 1 INT, 3 PBU

No Ohio State transfer had a better year in 2025 than Melton, who took full advantage of his one and only opportunity to be a starter at the collegiate level. After battling injuries and playing sparingly in five years at Ohio State, Melton emerged as one of the ACC’s top defensive ends at Virginia.


Pro Football Focus graded Melton as the 20th-best defensive end in the FBS (85.8). Also per PFF, Melton tied for the 15th-most quarterback pressures among FBS defensive ends in 2025. He earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks after leading Virginia to a pair of overtime wins with seven tackles and a forced fumble vs. Florida State and two sacks with another forced fumble, a pass breakup and five total tackles at Louisville.

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Melton, who played in the Hula Bowl in January, will look to parlay his big season with the Cavaliers into an NFL draft selection.
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LB Cincere Johnson (Official Thread)

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Johnson has the speed to drop into coverage and the size and physicality to create havoc in the run gaps and backfield when called upon. Whether it's on the ball or off of it, the linebacker has the athleticism to make plays all over the field.

When it comes to chasing down an opposing ballcarrier, Johnson not only has the instincts and quickness to chase the player down, but the explosiveness and hard-hitting ability to create turnovers as well.

While he must improve his tactics as a pass-rusher, Johnson will be a do-it-all linebacker once that happens. His physicality, athleticism and proven playmaking ability should turn him into a lethal player and the next star linebacker for Ohio State.
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