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08/30/24 - RB Rodney Hammond Jr., rSr/2026, Sacramento State + More +

Pitt running back Rodney Hammond Jr. has been declared ineligible and will miss the 2024 season, the school announced Friday. No reason was provided, but Hammond remains a member of the team and can practice, the school said. Hammond, in his fourth year, led the Panthers in rushing last year with 564 yards and scored four touchdowns. Desmond Reid was listed as co-No. 1 on the depth chart at running back heading into Pitt’s opener Saturday at home against Kent State. Reid is a third-year transfer from Western Carolina, where he played for new Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell and ran for 897 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. - AP College Football

RB Rodney Hammond Jr., rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (30)

+ Sacramento State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Sacramento State Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/30/24 - WR Nick Nash, rSr/2025, San Jose State + More +

Nick Nash accounted for three touchdowns, Emmett Brown threw three touchdown passes and San Jose State defeated Sacramento State 42-24 on Thursday night in the debut of Ken Niumatalolo as coach of the Spartans. Nash caught 10 passes for 170 yards with two touchdowns. The former quarterback also threw one pass - a 26-yard touchdown to Jacob Stewart in the second quarter. Brown, a sophomore transfer from Washington State, completed 20 of 34 passes for 298 yards. Floyd Chalk IV, a junior transfer from Grambling State, had 87 yards rushing and scored twice for the Spartans. Sacramento State rolled up 160 yards in the first quarter, led 14-7 and had the ball inside the 10-yard line at the end of the period. On fourth down from the 1, San Jose State’s John Norwood forced and recovered a fumble to keep the Spartans within seven points. - AP College Football

WR Nick Nash, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 2* (244)

+ San Jose State Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
San Jose State Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/30/24 - QB Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah + More +

Cam Rising made his return with a career-high five touchdown passes - three to Brant Kuithe - to power No. 12 Utah to a 49-0 win over Southern Utah on Thursday night. Rising, a seventh-year senior quarterback, shined in his first game action since tearing multiple knee ligaments in the Utes' Rose Bowl loss to Penn State on Jan. 2, 2023, going 10 of 15 for 254 yards and 25 rushing yards as the 84th consecutive sellout crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium held its collective breath on each rush. He left the game in the second quarter with Utah up 35-0.

Kuithe, who also missed last season and most of the 2022 campaign, caught three touchdown passes - all in the second quarter. He caught a 29-yard toss for a score on the first play of the quarter before an 18-yarder three minutes later. With 1:08 to play in the half, Kuithe fought off three defenders on his way into the end zone on a 11-yard grab. Rising's barrage marked the first time Utah had five passing TDs in a half since Brian Johnson against San Diego State in 2008, the last season Utah went undefeated. In their first game as a member of the Big 12 Conference, the Utes churned 513 yards of total offense in their 15th straight win over FCS opponents. Utah only reached the 500-yard mark once in 2023, against Arizona State. Kuithe wrote his way into the Big 12 record book as the first tight end to ever have three touchdown receptions in a half. - AP College Football

QB Cameron Rising, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (34)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (15)

+ Utah Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Utah Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/30/24 - QB Jacob Zeno, rSr/2026, Texas AM + More +

Jacob Zeno threw for two touchdowns, Lee Beebe Jr. ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns and UAB beat Alcorn State 41-3 in the season opener for both teams on Thursday night. Beebe ran it in from the 2 after helping to lead an 11-play, 70-yard drive that gave the Blazers a 7-0 lead on the opening drive. On Alcorn State's opening drive, the Braves lost nine yards and were forced to punt. On fourth down, Sirad Bryant blocked Elijah Gorman's punt and Alcorn State turned it over on downs when Eric Thomas Jr. recovered the ball for the Braves at their own 6.

Zeno then connected with Brandon Hawkins Jr. on 9-yard touchdown pass following a false start for a 14-0 lead. In the second quarter, Zeno threw a 15-yard touchdown to Amare Thomas and Beebe ran it in from the 2 with 1:30 left before halftime. UAB outgained Alcorn State 517-177 in total yardage despite committing 10 penalties for 72 yards. The Braves offense struggled most of the way and three quarterbacks - Roderick Hartsfield Jr., Xzavier Vaughn and Tyler Macon - combined to complete 9 of 21 passes for 60 yards and an interception. - AP College Football

QB Jacob Zeno, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (28)

+ Texas AM Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Texas AM Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/30/24 - QB Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026, Illinois + More +

Luke Altmyer threw for 213 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Illinois past Eastern Illinois 45-0 Thursday night in the season opener for both teams. Altmyer spread the wealth while completing 19 of 24 passes. Eleven receivers caught passes, three for touchdowns. Pat Bryant had two TDs, giving him 11 for his career. Malik Elzy and Tanner Arkin also caught TD passes. Kaden Feagin led Illinois' rushing attack with 16 carries for 108 yards. It was his first career 100-yard game. He ran for a touchdown and so did Josh McCray. Aidan Laughery ran for 79 yards on 10 carries. Illinois scored on all five of its trips into the red zone, outgained Eastern Illinois 486-196, and had 27 first downs to the Panthers' nine.

Four Eastern Illinois turnovers were turned into 24 points by the Illini. Miles Scott caused a fumble and had an interception. It was 31-0 at halftime. Eastern Illinois had a promising opening drive, but Scott forced a fumble by running back Jay Pearson and Seth Coleman recovered on the Illini 23. That turned out to be the Panthers' deepest penetration into Illinois territory until late in the third quarter, when Dylan Rosiek chased down Eastern Illinois receiver DeAirious Smith after a pass completion, Smith fumbled, and Kaleb Patterson recovered on the Illini 13. Altmyer threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bryant following Coleman's fumble recovery. That came on the play after an Altmyer-to-Zakhari Franklin touchdown pass was ruled incomplete and confirmed by video review after a challenge by Illinois. - AP College Football

QB Luke Altmyer, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (24)

+ Illinois Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Illinois Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/30/24 - WR Efton Chism III, rSr/2025, Eastern Washington + More +

Kekoa Visperas threw five touchdown passes, three to Efton Chism III, and Eastern Washington rolled to a 42-27 season-opening win over Monmouth on Thursday night. Visperas, who started 10 games a year ago and was a Big Sky Conference honorable mention honoree, completed 25 of 28 pass attempts without an interception as the Eagles dominated time of possession, holding the ball for more than 37 minutes. Five of Eastern Washington's six scoring drives covered more than 74 yards, with the shortest drive covering 65 yards in 10 plays.

Visperas found Chism with a 30-yard touchdown pass to cap an opening 77-yard drive. The pair added a 12-yard touchdown in the third quarter and again from 16 yards out early in the fourth. Chism, a senior who has caught a pass in every game in which he's played, caught 12 balls for 173 yards. Visperas added touchdown passes to Nolan Ulm and Miles Williams, both in the second quarter. Jared Taylor scored from nine yards out in the first quarter and Tuna Altahir carried 16 times for 108 yards. Visperas carried six times for 29 yards and caught a pass for seven more. - AP College Football

WR Efton Chism III, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (00)

+ Eastern Washington Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Eastern Washington Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - CB Rayshawn Pleasant, rJr/2027, Tulane + More +

Rayshawn Pleasant had a 100-yard pick-6, Darian Mensah threw a pair of touchdown passes and Tulane rolled to a 52-0 rout of Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams. Pleasant picked off Eli Stewart's pass in the corner of the end zone, ran along the left sideline for about 40 yards before cutting up the middle for a score that put the Green Wave up 21-0 just before halftime. It was just the second 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in American Conference history.

Mensah opened the scoring with an 11-yard TD pass to Yulkeith Brown. Mensah's 12-yard scoring throw to Alex Bauman made it 42-0 early in the fourth quarter. Mensah was 10-of-12 passing for 205 yards. Makhi Hughes ran for 59 of the Green Wave's 241 yards rushing that included a scoring run. Ty Thompson had a pair of short-yardage TD runs and Arnold Barnes III added another on the ground. Sawyer was 14-of-19 passing for 99 yards. Antonio Martin Jr. added 68 yards rushing on 13 carries for the Lions. - AP College Football

CB Rayshawn Pleasant, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (324)

+ Tulane Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Tulane Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - QB Ethan Vasko, rJr/2027, Liberty + More +

Ethan Vasko threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Coastal Carolina to a 55-27 victory over Jacksonville State on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams. Vasko connected with Tray Taylor on a 36-yard scoring throw to put the Chanticleers up for good, 10-3, early in the first quarter. Vasko's 37-yarder to Jameson Tucker stretched the lead to 48-13 midway through the fourth quarter.

Vasko completed 12 of 19 passes for 249 yards and added 39 yards on the ground that included a 4-yard touchdown run. Taylor finished with 98 yards receiving on three catches. Ja'Vin Simpkins had 80 of the Chanticleers' 294 yards rushing. Braydon Bennett added 60 yards and two touchdown runs. Jacksonville State's Tyler Huff threw for 173 yards with a 92-yard touchdown toss to Michael Pettway. Tre Stewart added a 38-yard scoring run for the Gamecocks with about a minute left in the game. - AP College Football

QB Ethan Vasko, rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 3* (92)

+ Liberty Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Liberty Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - QB General Booty, rSr/2026, Transfer + More +

Freshman Ahmad Hardy ran for 103 yards and a touchdown, UL Monroe scored the game's final 16 points and the Warhawks defeated FCS-member Jackson State 30-14 in a season opener on Thursday night. The game marked the ULM debut of Bryant Vincent as coach. The Warhawks went ahead 14-7 in the final minute of the second quarter when Hardy scored on a 1-yard run. The nine-play, 42-yard drive began after an interception by Wydett Williams Jr. and included a fourth-down conversion by Hardy inside the 5-yard line.

Jackson State tied it at 14 on a 3-yard run by Jacobian Morgan early in the third quarter but the Warhawks finished the game with a 22-yard touchdown run by James Jones, a field goal, and a 28-yard TD pass from Aidan Armenta to Javon Cambell. It was backup quarterback Armenta's only pass of the game. Oklahoma transfer General Booty completed 10 of 14 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game. Morgan completed 23 of 28 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown for Jackson State. - AP College Football

QB General Booty, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 0* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ Transfer Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Transfer Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - QB Kirk Francis, rSo/2028, Tulsa + More +

Kirk Francis threw for four touchdowns - all before halftime - and Tulsa beat Northwestern State 62-28 on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams. The feisty FCS-member Demons put a spirited fight in the first quarter when on the second play from scrimmage, Kenneth Lacy ran for a 75-yard score and a 7-0 lead. Francis threw his first score when he connected with Kamdyn Benjamin from 36 yards to tie it. A little more than two minutes later, Benjamin returned a punt 66 yards for a 14-7 Tulsa advantage.

With 1:06 left in the first, the Demons' Cam Hardy blocked a 32-yard field-goal attempt by Seth Morgan and Antonio Hall gathered the ball and returned it 74 yards to tie it at 14. Tulsa took control in the second with four touchdowns to end the Northwestern threat. Francis threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Ballard and scores of 20 and 14 yards to Connor Vaughn. The 14-yard score to Vaughn occurred with 37 seconds before halftime and put Tulsa up 41-14. Francis finished 23-of-30 passing for 299 yards. The Demons' Lacy had seven carries for 72 yards despite the 75-yard scoring run. - AP College Football

QB Kirk Francis, rSo/2028 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 2* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ Tulsa Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Tulsa Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - RB Ryan Ingram, rSr/2026, Chattanooga + More +

Ryan Ingram ran for a 7-yard touchdown to cap a long scoring drive in the fourth quarter and Bridger Jones added a 45-yard field goal late to help Wofford beat Gardner-Webb 21-20 on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams. Ingram scored with 13:10 left to cap a 10-play, 83-yard drive that pulled the Terriers within 20-18. Jay Billingsley's field-goal attempt for Gardner-Webb was blocked before Jones' field goal with 5:50 remaining. Jones also made a 47-yarder in the second quarter.

Amari Odom was 22-of-35 passing for 260 yards with a touchdown for Wofford. J.T. Smith Jr. added 47 of the Terriers' 119 yards on the ground. Gardner-Webb's Tyler Ridell completed 18 of 28 passes for 238 yards. Edward Saydee, who rushed for 46 yards, ran for a 32-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage for the Bulldogs in the second half that stretched their lead to 20-11. - AP College Football

RB Ryan Ingram, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 2* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ Chattanooga Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Chattanooga Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - QB DJ Smith, Sr/2026, Mercer + More +

D.J. Smith accounted for four touchdowns and threw for 320 yards and Mercer took charge early in a 63-10 win over Presbyterian in the season opener for both teams on Thursday night. Dwayne Mcgee ran it from the 3 on Mercer's first drive for a 7-0 lead. Following a Blue Hose field goal, Smith helped lead an eight-play, 62-yard drive that ended with his 13-yard scoring pass to Kelin Parsons and a 14-3 lead. Smith - who threw three touchdowns and ran for one - plunged in from the 1 for a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Bears scored two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and posted three TDs in the fourth. Smith threw a 68-yard touchdown to Brayden Smith and connected on a 9-yarder with Tyrell Coard for a 42-3 advantage. Smith's lone punt return was a 75-yard touchdown and the game's final score with 1:39 remaining. Mercer collected 500 yards on offense and went 8 for 11 on third down conversions. Presbyterian scored its touchdown when Ty Englehart threw a 24-yard pass to Cincere Gill to reduce the deficit to 42-10 before the end of the third. Engelhart threw for 141 yards and was intercepted twice. - AP College Football

QB DJ Smith, Sr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 2* ()
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ Mercer Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Mercer Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - RB Charles Pierre Jr., rJr/2027, South Dakota + More +

Charles Pierre Jr. ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns and South Dakota rolled past Division-II Northern State 45-3 in a season opener Thursday night. The Coyotes, coming off their most successful postseason run, got a 97-yard kickoff return from Kevondray Jones-Logan and a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter after Northern State scored its only points. Pierre had short scoring runs that came before and after a 55-yard punt return by Carter Bell in the second quarter for a 31-3 halftime lead. The Coyotes reached the FCS quarterfinals for the first time last season.

They have now beaten the Division-II Wolves in all nine of their meetings. Travis Theis added 86 of the Coyotes' 266 yards rushing and a 10-yard touchdown. L.J. Phillips Jr. finished the scoring with a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter. South Dakota outgained 351-207 in total offense. The Coyotes made two interceptions and recovered a muffed punt. - AP College Football

RB Charles Pierre Jr., rJr/2027 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ South Dakota Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
South Dakota Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - QB Connor Watkins, rSr/2025, Villanova + More +

Connor Watkins carried it 10 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed six passes for 90 yards to help Villanova beat Youngstown State 24-17 on Thursday night in a season opener for both teams. Watkins, the Coastal Athletic Association preseason offensive player of the year, scored on a 29-yard run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 24-3. Youngstown State battled back to get within seven points with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter. Then Villanova was forced to punt on its next possession, but Ethan Gettman booted a 62-yarder that was downed at the Youngstown State 6-yard line. Richie Kimmel sealed it for Villanova with an interception.

Beau Brungard was intercepted two times for Youngstown State. He finished with 152 yards passing and a touchdown. Villanova opened the scoring on Ethan Gettman's 42-yard field goal in the first quarter - his eighth career make from 40-plus yards. Watkins added a 14-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead. Isaiah Ragland also had a rushing touchdown in the first half from 3-yards out. Zahmir Dawud intercepted a pass with 1:27 remaining in the first half and Villanova took over near midfield. The Wildcats led 17-3 at the break, aided by two Youngstown State turnovers. - AP College Football

QB Connor Watkins, rSr/2025 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 0* (00)

+ Villanova Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
Villanova Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here

08/29/24 - QB Max Johnson, rSr/2026, North Carolina + More +

North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson left the season opener at Minnesota with an injury to his right knee in the third quarter of his debut with the Tar Heels on Thursday night. Johnson, who transferred from Texas A&M and won the job to replace third overall NFL draft pick Drake Maye, was hurt when his leg bent awkwardly while being taken to the ground on a blitz by Justin Walley.

Johnson immediately clutched his right knee and stayed down for several minutes. After beginning to limp off with assistance from the medical staff, he was instead put on a cart to be taken off the field. After a rough first half, Johnson went 8 for 9 for 43 yards in the third quarter. He was replaced by Conner Harrell with the Gophers leading 14-10. Johnson, the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, started his college career at LSU. This was the 23rd start for the fifth-year player. - AP College Football

QB Max Johnson, rSr/2026 Draft Class
Pro Scouting Grade: 3* (00)
Recruiting Grade: 4* (14)

+ North Carolina Roster/Recruiting/Scouting
North Carolina Player News & Notes

News Source: AP College Football, Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here