Alabama QB, LB declaring for draft
The Associated Press
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and linebacker Jihaad Campbell are entering the NFL draft.
Milroe and Campbell announced decisions to skip their final seasons Thursday on social media, two days after the Crimson Tide fell to Michigan 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
“Football has always been my passion, and since I was a kid, I dreamed of competing at the highest level,” Milroe posted. “Through every win, every tough loss, and any criticism along the way, my love and dedication to this game has never wavered. Every day, my gratitude for the opportunity to play this sport I love only grows stronger.”
Milroe passed for 2,844 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. He also rushed for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns, leading an upset of Georgia. But the Tide finished 9-4 and failed to make the playoffs.
In his Alabama finale, Milroe fumbled twice, took a fourth-down sack and threw an interception on the Crimson Tide’s first four drives.
But he will finish his Alabama career with 6,016 passing yards and 45 touchdowns against 20 interceptions. He also ran for 1,579 yards and 33 scores.
Campbell took over as a starting linebacker last season, finishing with 117 tackles. He also had 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles.
Unhappy commish
DALLAS — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is calling for more consistency on what constitutes a targeting penalty after no call was made on Texas safety Michael Taaffe’s high hit on Arizona State receiver Melquan Stovall late in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl.
Taaffe struck Stovall with a helmet-to-helmet hit as Stovall caught a pass near midfield with 1:15 left in regulation Wednesday. No flag was thrown, but referee Larry Smith of the Big Ten halted play to check the replay for possible targeting. As Stovall was being helped off the field, Smith announced there was no penalty.
No pay…no play
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville punter Brady Hodges said he opted out of the Sun Bowl this week because the Cardinals’ NIL collective did not pay money promised to him in September.
Hodges posted on social media during Tuesday’s game against Washington in El Paso, Texas, that he had not been with the team since Dec. 10.
“I graduated on December 13th and had every intention on being with the team had they held up their end of the deal,” Hodges wrote. He did not disclose how much money he is owed.
Matthew Sluka, starting quarterback for the UNLV football team, left the Rebels after three games in September because he was never paid a $100,000 NIL deal. Former Florida quarterback signee Jaden Rashada, now playing at Georgia, sued Gators coach Billy Napier last year over an unpaid $13 million NIL deal.