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Yardbarker •

Lakers may face a dilemma when evaluating major team need

The Los Angeles Lakers' top priority this offseason has been no secret. After falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, it's clear that the Lakers need help defending the paint if they want to contend. The pressure is now on Los Angeles to acquire a post presence to aid Lebron James and Luka Doncic next season. Though this goal may seem straightforward, several factors could impact how the Lakers approach acquiring a new big man. When assessing their trade targets...
Yardbarker •

Hugh Freeze gives candid take on increasing pressure at Auburn

Freeze's expectations for his team heading into the 2025 season shouldn't be considered a tall task. Auburn finished last season just one game short of bowl eligibility, with a 5-7 record. Despite its final standing, Freeze highlighted the narrow margin that kept his team out of bowl season last year."We could've won some games last year...we got to find a way to make sure we are excellent in those areas that cost us —those that put us in a position to be bowl eligible, if not more," Freeze said...
Yardbarker •

Second chances in the NFL: Which QBs can bounce back?

The quarterback position is often viewed as the most challenging in football. The high demands placed on signal-callers leave many on a short leash with little room for error — those who don't take significant strides early in their careers risk being replaced and relegated to reserves. Once a QB is labeled a reserve, they may never get the opportunity to compete for a starting position again. However, a lack of talent may not always be the reason a QB does not succeed out of the gate. Other fac...
Yardbarker •

Five star WR options for the Packers this offseason

Tee Higgins should be at the top of the Packers' wish list. The 26-year-old's playmaking ability can elevate the Green Bay offense from good to great and provide Jordan Love with a dependable target for explosive plays. Although Higgins will be looking for a large payday, his age and skill set should be more than enough to sway the Packer to invest in him.


Cooper KuppKupp is another big-play guy who has recently hit the trade block. Although he's regarded as one of the le...
Yardbarker •

How DeSean Jackson, Michael Vick can shift coaching landscape

Former NFL stars Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson have made headlines this past month after accepting
head-coaching positions at historically black colleges and universities. Vick, a Virginia native, is heading home to lead the Norfolk State Spartans, while Jackson will be in charge of the Delaware State Hornets. Though not originally from Delaware, the university is less than 100 miles from Philadelphia, where Jackson played for the Eagles from 2008 to 2013 and 2019 to 2020.Jackson State's decis...
Yardbarker •

New All-Star Game format may be just what the NBA needs

The NBA is experimenting with a new style of play for the 2024-25 All-Star Game in response to a decline in viewership in recent years.A perceived lack of competition has been a major point of criticism and last year's All-Star game was the straw that broke the camel's back. Though the Eastern had an eye-catching  211-186 victory over the Western Conference, a lack of defensive effort for both teams left many fans dissatisfied. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver voiced his concerns about the game in a...
Yardbarker •

Four QBs Auburn should try to get from transfer portal

Quarterback play has been a highly scrutinized aspect of Hugh Freeze's first two seasons as Auburn's head coach. Freeze's decision to stick with senior Payton Thorne instead of looking for answers in the transfer portal drew criticism following early season struggles by the signal-caller. Following a two-game stretch where he was benched in favor of freshman Hank Brown, Thorne returned to the starting lineup and showed improvement, throwing 14 touchdowns and four interceptions to close the year....
Yardbarker •

Wizards' young core is trending in the right direction

Early in the season, the Washington Wizards have a 2-14 record. Though the win column may not reflect it, Washington has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future. Player development is the franchise's primary focus for this season, and the early returns have been positive. After a rocky first year with the team, Jordan Poole has made significant strides in improvement. He currently contributes 21.2 points per game, a career-high and the most on the team. Poole also leads the team in a...
Shelby County Reporter •

Thompson dominates all aspects in playoff win against Daphne - Shelby County Reporter

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
ALABASTER – The Thompson Warriors will continue their playoff journey following a dominating 50-0 victory over the Daphne Trojans on Nov. 8. The Warriors dominated every aspect of this game to punch their ticket to the next round of the 7A playoffs.
“I told the kids that we need to find out who we are this week and let’s go play football.”  Thompson head coach Mark Freeman said. “I’m proud of the players. We had a great week of practice that carried over. N...
Shelby County Reporter •

Luke Reynolds erupts for 5 TDs as Briarwood routs McAdory for fifth-straight win to end year - Shelby County Reporter

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
NORTH SHELBY – The Briarwood Christian Lions concluded their season on a five-game win streak after defeating the McAdory Yellow Jackets 55-35 on Nov. 1 at Lions Pride Stadium, which secured a 5-5 record after an 0-5 start.
“It’s a testament to these seniors and the legacy they wanted to leave,” Briarwood coach Matthew Forester said. “Obviously, season didn’t start like we wanted it to, but it really couldn’t have ended any better. Five straight wins, pract...
Yardbarker •

Why the Lakers should wait on a trade attempt for Walker Kessler

As the new NBA season unfolds, the Los Angeles Lakers have been linked to trade speculations surrounding Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. This isn't the first time Kessler’s name has appeared in rumors about a potential move to the Purple and Gold. Throughout last year’s campaign, it was believed that the Lakers were in search for a center to help relieve some of the defensive pressure on Anthony Davis. Kessler, 23, is an attractive option due to his age, height and shot-blocking ability. Acquir...
Yardbarker •

Takeaways from the Lakers' first five games of the season

Entering the season, the Los Angeles Lakers faced questions about how the year would unfold. The decision to hire a first-time head coach in JJ Redick, combined with a quiet offseason, led many to speculate if the Lakers should've been counted out before the season had even begun. The Lakers currently have a 3-2 record. After starting the year with a three-game winning streak, they've come down to Earth. Through five games, it is still too early to predict how the year will turn out for the Purp...
Yardbarker •

Senior running back gives Auburn a competitive boost

Auburn has had a largely underwhelming season so far; the offense ranks toward the bottom half of the nation for scoring, averaging around 21 points per game. Additionally, Auburn has struggled to take care of the ball, ranking 98th nationally in turnover margin.Despite these struggles, Auburn seemed to have caught a break. On Saturday, the Tigers defeated the Kentucky Wildcats, ending a four-game losing streak and earning their first conference win of the year. Jarquez Hunter's rushing efforts...
Shelby County Reporter •

Hewitt-Trussville’s explosive offense overwhelms Oak Mountain - Shelby County Reporter

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
TRUSSVILLE – The Oak Mountain Eagles could not stop the explosive offense of the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies, falling 63-0 on Friday, Oct. 18 at Hewitt-Trussville High School.
The Huskies got off to a hot start for their first possession. After a three-and-out by the Eagles, the Hewitt offense began their drive at the Oak Mountain 42-yard line. The offense found the end zone four plays later to give the Huskies a 7-0 early in the first quarter.
The next Oak M...
Shelby County Reporter •

Big second-half effort keeps Briarwood’s playoff hopes alive as Lions beat John Carroll - Shelby County Reporter

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
NORTH SHELBY – The Briarwood Christian Lions climbed out of an early 14-0 hole to defeat the John Carroll Cavaliers, 21-17 and continue their chase for a playoff berth.
“That’s the story of this team, and that’s what I appreciate,” Briarwood head coach Matthew Forester said. “They’re willing to battle each week and give it their best shot. I’m proud of the defense. The offense wasn’t clicking early, but they figured out a way.”
Briarwood opened the game pus...
Yardbarker •

Could Jets' high expectations derail their season?

While the Jets are off to a rocky start to the season, they still are in the hunt for the AFC East title. A victory on Monday against the Buffalo Bills would move them into first place in the division and the playoff picture. With ample time to correct the course of the season, why did Johnson think that a little over a month into the regular season was a good time to let go of Saleh? While it is true that things were not going well for Gang Green, unique factors have played into the disappointi...
Shelby County Reporter •

Thompson stands tall late to get past Hewitt-Trussville - Shelby County Reporter

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
ALABASTER – Despite a strong second-half effort by the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies, the Thompson Warriors held off the Huskies in a tight defensive showdown 15-10 on Oct. 4 at Warrior Stadium to remain tied for the top spot in the region with Hoover.
“We’re learning every week, and I’m proud of our kids. They persevered,” Thompson coach Mark Freeman said. “We had some tough times, but they battled through, and at the end of the game, we got the win.”
Hewitt-T...
Shelby County Reporter •

Spain Park overcomes early deficit against James Clemens to remain unbeaten - Shelby County Reporter

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
MADISON – The battle of two unbeaten teams did not disappoint. After falling behind 14-0 early in the contest to the James Clemens Jets, the Spain Park Jaguars responded with a strong second-half effort to retain their unblemished record with a 34-24 win at James Clemens High School on Sept. 27.
“We tell our kids all the time, we train like heavyweights, every heavyweight has their favorite punch, but the champions have chins,” Spain Park head coach Tim Vak...
Yardbarker •

Auburn's decision at quarterback could define season

Following a 24-14 loss to Arkansas on Saturday, the Auburn Tigers find themselves with a quarterback controversy. Payton Thorne entered the year as the Tiger's starting signal-caller before being benched following a four-interception game against California. Auburn then turned to redshirt freshman Hank Brown. Brown led the Tigers to victory against New Mexico, tossing four touchdowns in their 45-19 win. This would not be the case in Brown's first start in an SEC game as he struggled to take care...
Shelby County Reporter •

Helena’s late rally falls short to Moody

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
HELENA – Despite a hard-fought comeback effort, the Helena Huskies had no answer for the big play ability of the Moody Blue Devils falling 26-21 on Sept. 20 at Helena High School.
The game got off to a slow start with both teams exchanging punts following brief possessions.
After starting in plus territory, momentum appeared to be riding with Moody until a quarterback sack by Austin Acosta put the Blue Devils behind the sticks and into a second-and-long sit...
Yardbarker •

Packers QB Jordan Love sitting would add twist to Titans matchup

The Green Bay Packers rebounded nicely from their Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, defeating the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday to get into the win column despite being without starting quarterback Jordan Love. Love, who suffered an MCL sprain late in the Packers opener, is not expected to miss an extended period with Green Bay electing to keep him off the injured reserve. In Love’s absence, Malik Willis took command of the reigns for Week 2, completing 12 of his 14 pass attempts for...
Shelby County Reporter •

Strong second half play propels Vincent over B.B. Comer for first time since 2014

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter
VINCENT – The Vincent Yellow Jackets are off to a 2-0 start with a remarkable win on Friday, Aug. 30, taking down the B.B. Comer Tigers, 21-18 in a matchup decided in the game’s final seconds.
“We have some character and resolve,” Vincent head coach Lucas Weatherford said. “We’re not going to give up when our backs are against the wall, we’re going to find our way out for a chance to win.”
The game got off to a slow start with the first quarter ending in a...
Yardbarker •

Three things to keep an eye on for Packers ahead of Week 1

As the Green Bay Packers finalize their 53-man roster for the upcoming regular season, attention will soon shift to how the Green and Gold will follow up their impressive 2023 season that saw the team come within arm’s reach of a Super Bowl appearance. The Packers will kick things off this year against a formidable opponent in the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Packers wish to give an encore to last year's season and potentially accomplish more, they will need to assess and fine-tune a few of their...
Shelby County Reporter •

Shelby County rushing attack overwhelms Lincoln for 57 points

By NIC YOUNG | Special to the Reporter

LINCOLN – The Shelby County Wildcats began their season on a high note with an impressive offensive showing in their match against the Lincoln Golden Bears, securing a 57-10 win on the road at Lincoln High School on Friday, Aug. 23.
The 57-point showing was the most single-game points of the Zeb Ellison era and the highest since Week 11 of 2019, and it came by way of a massive showing on the ground.
“Anytime you start off with a win, you get a little bit mo...
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