LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nico Iamaleava decided to stay at UCLA for another season after a positive conversation with new coach Bob Chesney. Chesney is bringing fresh energy to the Bruins. UCLA struggled last season, finishing 3-9 after coach DeShaun Foster was fired after an 0-3 start. Iamaleava threw for nearly 2,000 yards and led the team in rushing after transferring from Tennessee. He's now getting a full spring camp experience and learning a new playbook. Chesney's high-energy approach is motivating the team. Iamaleava is focused on building strength to handle hits better this season. Defensive back Cole Martin is praising Iamaleava's leadership and Chesney's team-building efforts.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan coach Dusty May has agreed on a deal that will have him continuing to lead the Wolverines “for many years to come,” according to athletic director Warde Manuel. Manuel made the comment Saturday during a ceremony celebrating Michigan’s NCAA Tournament championship. May led Michigan to a national title in his second season on the job after inheriting a program that went 8-24 the year before his arrival. Michigan went 37-3 this season and earned its first national title since 1989 by beating UConn 69-63 in the NCAA Tournament championship game.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kyle Chyzowski tipped in a shot from the point with 5:52 left to back up another sensational performance from goalie Johnny Hicks and rally Denver to a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday for the Pioneers' third national championship in five years. The victory also extended the Pioneers’ record to 11 national titles overall and denied the Badgers their seventh overall and first since 2006. The National Collegiate Hockey Conference remains the sport’s premier league by claiming eight of the past 10 national champions.
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State's Jeremy Fears has announced he is declaring for the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He made the announcement Friday on social media. Fears led Michigan State in scoring and the nation in assists per game. Fears was an Associated Press All-Big Ten first-team selection and an AP All-America second-team pick after averaging 15 points and 9.4 assists per game in his third season with the Spartans. Underclassmen can maintain their eligibility by applying to the NBA’s undergraduate advisory committee and withdrawing from the draft by May 27 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
UNDATED (AP) — The NFL draft is seeing fewer longshots from small schools. The rise of NIL deals and the crowded transfer portal have concentrated talent in power conferences. The shift is impacting the draft, with fewer players from nonpower conferences being taken during the three-day event. Only 24 of 257 NFL draftees last year came from nonpower conferences. The NCAA's policy changes on name, image, and likeness, along with transfer rules, have altered scouting strategies, focusing more on traditional football powerhouses.
UNDATED (AP) — The NIL deals that are transforming college sports are also allowing NFL teams to gain insight into how a young player will react to having money before they get a big pro contract. For many evaluators, it has become an important tool in the draft process. A prospect who stays focused despite lucrative deals is more likely to make a smoother transition to the pros. Scouts want to see if a player’s performance dips after making a lot of money or if he maintains the same work ethic and consistency. How they interact with teammates is also a key dynamic.
NEW YORK (AP) — Five Ohio State players plan to attend the first round of the NFL draft on April 23. Defensive back Caleb Downs, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, linebacker Arvell Reese, linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Carnell Tate will be in the green room in Pittsburgh waiting for their name to be called. Ohio State has a chance to join Michigan State in 1967 and Notre Dame in 1946 as the only schools to have four players selected in the top 10. Heisman Trophy winner and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the projected first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, is expected to watch the draft in Miami.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Arvell Reese could be the first defensive player off the board during the first round of the NFL draft on April 23 in Pittsburgh. There isn’t a clear consensus, though, on the best position for the Ohio State linebacker. Scouts and defensive coaches praise Reese for his versatility. Most think he can develop into an elite pass rusher, while others envision him more as an off-ball linebacker. Reese was an edge rusher and middle linebacker his first two seasons with the Buckeyes, but it was Matt Patricia’s arrival as defensive coordinator last year that unlocked Reese’s full potential. Patricia lined up Reese as a joker defender, which is a hybrid linebacker/edge rusher who can play on the edge or move inside to spy on the quarterback or contain opposing running backs.
