Georgia is making Kirby Smart the highest-paid college football coach at a public school under a new contract announced Thursday. Smart, who led the Bulldogs to national championships in 2021 and 2022, agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2033 that will pay him a yearly salary of $13 million -- a $1.75 million annual raise -- and bonuses up to $1.55 million. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is due to make $11.5 million in 2024, according to reports. Smart, 48, is 94-16 in eight seasons at his alma mater, including 13-1 last season when a loss to Alabama for the...

Georgia coach Kirby Smart yells during spring practice in Athens, Ga., on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have declined to pick up the fifth-year team option for running back Najee Harris in 2025, according to multiple media reports Thursday. Harris, 26, was projected to cost the team $6.7 million in guaranteed money. A Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2021, he is the first player in Steelers history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Thursday was the...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have declined to pick up the fifth-year team option for running back Najee Harris in 2025, according to multiple media reports Thursday. Harris, 26, was projected to cost the team $6.7 million in guaranteed money. A Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2021, he is the first player in Steelers history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Thursday was the deadline for teams to exercise fifth-year options for first-round draft picks in 2021. As expected, Pittsburgh also declined the option for quarterback Justin Fields -- obtained in an offseason trade...

Dec 16, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye (51) moves in to tackle Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) for a loss during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Scheer-USA TODAY Sports

Cornerback Eric Stokes can become a free agent in March after the Green Bay Packers declined the 2025 team option in his contract. Drafted 29th out of Georgia in 2021, Stokes and the Packers could work out a contract extension before the current deal expires. But he'll likely have some proving to do before general manager Brian Gutekunst floats new paperwork. Picking up the fifth-year option would've been worth only...

Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes (21) is carted off the field during the first half against Detroit Lions at Ford Field, Nov. 6, 2022.

October 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance (15) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Former Washington State and Villanova guard TJ Bamba is transferring to Oregon, The Athletic reported Thursday. Bamba appeared to confirm his move to the Ducks by posting three duck emojis on X. He played three seasons with the Cougars before averaging 10.1 points in 33 starts for the Wildcats in 2023-24. Bamba has averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 119 career games (84 starts). The 6-foot-3 New York native is a career 38.0 percent shooter from beyond the arc with 144 made 3-pointers. --Field Level Media

Big East Most Improved Player Desmond Claude has committed to Southern California. Claude, who played in 69 games (35 starts) in two seasons at Xavier, elected to join the Trojans under new head coach Eric Musselman after visiting their campus last weekend. "It honestly felt like a perfect fit from the first call," the 6-foot-6 guard told ESPN on Thursday. "The academic support, basketball resources and basketball vision all seemed custom-made for me. Also, coach Musselman has a proven track record over the past several years of helping big lead guards make the jump to being NBA-ready guards." Claude's scoring average jumped from 4.7 as a freshman to 16.6 as a sophomore. Claude, who made only 23.9 percent of his 3-point tries last season, scored 30 points in his final game for the Musketeers at Georgia in an opening-round loss in the NIT. He led the Big East in scoring during March with 22.8 points per game. In addition to increased scoring, Claude played 33.8 minutes per game and averaged 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season. --Field Level Media

Kicker Joey Slye agreed to terms on a contract with the New England Patriots, ESPN reported Thursday. Slye, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Tuesday, is expected to provide competition for Chad Ryland in New England. Ryland, 24, made just 64 percent of his field-goal attempts (16 of 25) during his rookie season for the Patriots. He was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Slye didn't spend long in Jacksonville, as he signed with the club on March 18. Slye, 28, converted 19 of 24 field goals and 32 of 35 extra points in 17 games for the Washington Commanders last season. He has made 82.3 percent of his field goals and just 88.5 percent of his PATs across five seasons with four teams. --Field Level Media

Is quarterback Justin Fields in the mix for returning kicks with the Pittsburgh Steelers? Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has considered the unorthodox move, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recently told teammate Cam Heyward's "Not Just Football" podcast. "Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there," Warren said. "We're like hold up, hold up. We looked at him like, 'Justin Fields is about to be back...

Is quarterback Justin Fields in the mix for returning kicks with the Pittsburgh Steelers? Special teams coordinator Danny Smith has considered the unorthodox move, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren recently told teammate Cam Heyward's "Not Just Football" podcast. "Our special teams coordinator was talking about Justin Fields being back there," Warren said. "We're like hold up, hold up. We looked at him like, 'Justin Fields is about to be back there?' I don't know. I think it's cool." There is some logic behind the possibility, what with Fields being one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL and the...

Former Washington State and Villanova guard TJ Bamba is transferring to Oregon, The Athletic reported Thursday. Bamba appeared to confirm his move to the Ducks by posting three duck emojis on X. He played three seasons with the Cougars before averaging 10.1 points in 33 starts for the Wildcats in 2023-24. Bamba has averaged 9.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 119 career games (84 starts). The 6-foot-3 New York native is a career 38.0 percent shooter from beyond the arc with 144 made 3-pointers. --Field Level Media

The Lenoir City High School baseball team dismantled the Sequoyah Chiefs 13-1 in the District 5-3A play-in game Wednesday night. The game was a swift one as Lenoir City jumped out to an early lead and continued to keep the offensive pressure up at the plate. As a result, the Panthers run-ruled their opponent in just five innings. “At this point, you have to have fun and compete, and that’s...

Lenoir City's Brandon Bell pitching during season finale against Loudon April 26.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) tries to evade Carolina Panthers cornerback David Long Jr. (20) during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023.

Ex-Florida Atlantic star Johnell Davis announced Wednesday that he has committed to Arkansas and new coach John Calipari. Davis posted a picture of himself in an Arkansas uniform with the word COMMITTED on his Instagram page. Davis is also going through the NBA draft process for the second straight season. Last year, he pulled out and returned to Florida Atlantic. One of the top guards in the transfer portal, Davis scored 1,431 career points in four seasons at FAU. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and made 132 3-point baskets in 128 games (53 starts). He also accumulated 155 steals....

Ex-Florida Atlantic star Johnell Davis announced Wednesday that he has committed to Arkansas and new coach John Calipari. Davis posted a picture of himself in an Arkansas uniform with the word COMMITTED on his Instagram page. Davis is also going through the NBA draft process for the second straight season. Last year, he pulled out and returned to Florida Atlantic. ...

Dayton transfer Koby Brea, one of the nation's best 3-point shooters, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Wednesday. Later in the day, point guard Kerr Kriisa also joined the Kentucky program, raising the number of newcomers to nine since Mark Pope became coach of the Wildcats. Kriisa played three seasons for Arizona before spending 2023-24 at West Virginia. He is a native of Estonia and confirmed his decision to ESPN. Brea, a 6-foot-6 guard, drained 100 treys at a national-leading 49.8 percent clip during his fourth season with the Flyers in 2023-24. He averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2...