Devin Jackson

James Franklin embraces Penn State’s high expectations in 2025, but preseason hype ‘means nothing’ without results Entering his 12th season as head coach, Franklin says his team is embracing the conversations that rank the Nittany Lions as the class of college football heading into this season.

Penn State coach James Franklin acknowledged his program's expectations at Big Ten media days, but says preseason rankings "means nothing."

More on how Franklin, QB Drew Allar, and others are reloading for 2025 season:

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Eagles tackle Lane Johnson has improved with age: ‘He’s probably the best tackle to have ever played’ Johnson enters year 13 with the Eagles and in the NFL, and has showed no signs of slowing down. "He’s building his Hall of Fame resumé, and it’s been incredible [to watch]," Terron Armstead said.

As Eagles training camp opens today, RT Lane Johnson, 35, has fine tuned his game, even in the latter stages of his career.

Inside Johnson’s offseason process and why Duke Manyweather believes “he’s probably the best right tackle to have ever played:”

www.inquirer.com/eagles/lane-...

Inside Lane Johnson’s OL Masterminds, which brings top NFL linemen and the next generation together OL Masterminds, the brainchild of Johnson and O-line guru Duke Manyweather, is an annual summit for linemen who want to share tricks of the trade and learn for themselves how to up their game.

Last week, I got the opportunity to attend the 8th OL Masterminds summit in Texas, that has grown tremendously from 27 players at the first one.

A look inside the summit and how #Eagles RT Lane Johnson is building his legacy off the field with this event:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/ol-ma...

Bills tackle Dion Dawkins on pushing for O-lineman award, fond memories of Temple Dawkins went from Temple to becoming a perennial Pro Bowl player. Now he's championing the NFL's new O-line award and passing along lessons for the next generation.

Dion Dawkins is entering Year 9 with the #Bills and is a perennial Pro Bowler. I caught up with him one on one to reminisce on his time at #Temple and championing the “Protector of the Year” award.

Dawkins made his first trip to OL Masterminds this week:

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Lori Locust, recently promoted by the Tennessee Titans, is back in Pa. to grow girls’ flag football Locust is entering Year 7 in the NFL and will travel to Millersville University next weekend to help coach at former Eagle Ron Johnson's four-day girls' flag football camp.

I caught up with Philly native Lori Locust, who is Year 7 in the NFL with a new title this season w/the Titans. She will travel to Millersville University next weekend to help coach at former Eagle Ron Johnson's four-day girls' flag football residential camp.

www.inquirer.com/eagles/lori-...

Temple law student Stephen Mallozzi interns at a law firm during the week and drives NASCAR trucks on the weekend Mallozzi is a part-time driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and also has raced in the Xfinity Cup Series. In addition, he finds time to work at Outback Steakhouse.

NASCAR part-time Craftsman Truck Series driver Stephen Mallozzi balances law school at Temple and an associates job at Archer & Greiner.

I caught up with Mallozzi about how he balances his passions and is setting up his future:

www.inquirer.com/sports/steph...

Ten years after winning a state title at Imhotep, Yasir Durant and Andre Mintze are UFL champions Mintze, an outside linebacker, and Durant, an All-UFL offensive tackle, played a key role in the DC Defenders' 58-34 title game win over the Michigan Panthers on Saturday.

10 years after they helped Imhotep win a state title, Andre Mintze and Yasir Durant won a UFL title with the DC Defenders on Saturday.

From battles at practice to facing each other in the SEC, they’ve had a long history together:

www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

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Malvern Prep’s Tague Davis set a Louisville record and fueled its College World Series run Davis went from starring as a two-way player at Malvern Prep to setting the freshman home run record at Louisville. His next stop: a trip to Omaha to play in the College World Series.

Great article from @devinjackson.bsky.social Worth the time to read about the trip Tague Davis is on right now.

Malvern Prep’s Tague Davis set a Louisville record and fueled its College World Series run share.inquirer.com/4AdVNK

Philly’s Andre Mintze once thought his football career was over. Nearly a decade later, he’s thriving in the UFL. Mintze was part of the Imhotep Charter team that became the first Public League school to win a state title in 2015. A decade later, he's continuing his football journey on the UFL's DC Defenders.

Andre Mintze thought his football journey was over as a freshman at Vanderbilt in 2016, when he tore his ACL for a third time.

The Philly native and Imhotep Charter grad is one of the UFL sack leaders for the DC Defenders, who play in the UFL championship Sunday:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/andre...

Football rivalries renewed: Temple schedules new series vs. Rutgers and Delaware The Owls will open a four-game home-and-home series with the Scarlet Knights in 2030. Delaware and Temple will rekindle an old rivalry starting in 2032.

Story on #Temple adding futures series against Rutgers and Delaware and a big recruiting weekend for the Owls, who had six verbal commits since yesterday:

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

In 2032, Temple will play at Delaware on Sept. 2, a Thursday night game, and in 2033, will be in Philly on Sept. 1. Delaware head coach Ryan Carty was previously Temple HC KC Keeler’s OC at Sam Houston State from 2018-21.

Temple football announced a four-game series with Rutgers starting in 2030 and a two game series with Delaware starting in 2032.

2030: Rutgers at Temple (Sept. 7)
2031: Temple at Rutgers (Sept. 6)
2032: Rutgers at Temple (Sept. 11)
2033: Temple at Rutgers (Sept. 10)

Eagles’ ‘brotherhood’ shines through at Cooper DeJean’s celebrity softball game in Iowa Current Eagles A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Reed Blankenship, as well as former teammates Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers, were among those who showed up to support DeJean.

It was unofficially Cooper DeJean day in Des Moines yesterday and he had alot of his #Eagles teammates, past and present, with him for his celebrity softball game.

Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers may have moved on, but the Eagles' “brotherhood” remains strong:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/coope...

Penn State will have its ‘White Out’ game against Oregon; Temple’s kickoff time vs. Oklahoma set Times and broadcasts are beginning to trickle in for both the Owls and Nittany Lions, the latter of whom open with a nationally televised game against Nevada on Aug. 30.

Penn State’s Whiteout game is set for Oregon on Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m on NBC. Temple will host Oklahoma on Sept. 13 at noon. More on each team’s early schedule kickoff times:

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Camden’s Fran Brown has locked in his own NIL deal. Now he aims to make Syracuse a top destination in the Northeast. Earlier this month, Brown joined the National Football Foundation’s "Good in the Game" Podcast to talk NIL, being a thought leader, and modeling the Orange into a college football powerhouse.

Camden’s Fran Brown has locked in his own NIL deal. Now he aims to make Syracuse a top destination in the Northeast.

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Nike is releasing a Lower Merion-themed Kobe Bryant sneaker again, this time in Protro form Jalen Brunson and Caitlin Clark are among the current pros who wear Nike Kobe Bryant sneakers.

Fifteen years after Nike debuted the Kobe 5 “Lower Merion” shoe, an homage to Kobe Bryant’s high school alma mater, the brand will reportedly release the shoe again, but this time in the Protro form.

Breaking down DT Ty Robinson’s skill set and potential usage in Eagles defense Robinson is a throwback player who has the tools and potential to be a multi-down player at some point in his Eagles career.

The #Eagles waited until Round 4 to draft a defensive tackle, and ended up taking #Nebraska's Ty Robinson, the 6-foot-5, 288-pound explosive and versatile D-linemen. What does he bring to the defense and how might he be used?

I break that down and more:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagle...

Does transfer Gevani McCoy have the skills to beat out Evan Simon for Temple’s starting QB job? Here’s what the film says McCoy threw just three touchdown passes to six interceptions last season at Oregon State, but his body of work at Idaho and his rushing ability could upgrade the Owls offense.

A few weeks ago, #Temple added Oregon State transfer Gevani McCoy to its QB room, and it's clear to see why they coveted his skill set after watching him.

Can he challenge Evan Simon for the starting role? I explore that and more in this film breakdown:

www.inquirer.com/college-spor...

Exuberant Eagles fan Jihaad Campbell lands with hometown team in NFL draft: ‘The rich got richer’ Could you tell? Campbell, a South Jersey native, was overjoyed to become an Eagles first-round draft pick.

TV cameras caught Jihaad Campbell skipping down the draft theater hall, slapping the Eagles emblem, and delivering a PPV promo after getting drafted by the #Eagles.

“The rich got richer,” he said afterward.

Scenes from Campbell’s memorable draft night:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/jihaa...

Jihaad Campbell’s journey began at Timber Creek. Now the eye-popping LB is closing in on his NFL dream. Campbell could be a first-round pick after a standout career at Alabama. He hasn't forgotten that it all began at Timber Creek.

Jihaad Campbell always visualized himself playing in the NFL, but it was at Timber Creek where he began to feel that dream brining possible.

Now, he's coming home, on after being drafted by the Eagles in the first. round:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/nfl-d...

2025 NFL mock draft: Eagles move up for defensive star in first round Here are our pick-by-pick predictions for the first three rounds of the draft, including three selections by the Eagles.

Draft expert @devinjackson.bsky.social provides his pick-by-pick projection for the first three rounds of this week’s draft ⤵️

A black graphic with orange text at the top that says "Tuesday, April 22 at 12 p.m. ET." Underneath that is a headline in white text it says "Reddit AMA: Breaking down the Eagles ahead of the 2025 NFL draft." Underneath is a subhead in white text that says "Coming off a second Super Bowl title, how will the Eagles approach the NFL draft? Ask The Inquirer's draft expert Devin Jackson." Underneath is orange text that says "Ask us anything in r/Eagles."

Have any questions surrounding the Eagles heading into the 2025 NFL draft?

Inquirer draft expert @devinjackson.bsky.social is here to provide some answers today at noon in the r/Eagles subreddit!

Send in your questions here: www.reddit.com/r/eagles/com...

Will the Eagles swap picks again in the draft? Here’s what history shows for teams picking last in the first round. Since 2015, teams have traded out of the final pick of the first round five times. Will the Eagles join that trend in next week's draft? They've traded up four times in the first round since 2019.

In the last 10 drafts, teams picking at the end of round one traded up or back 5 times. The #Eagles pick 32 next week. They traded out of 32 in 2018.

Howie Roseman has traded up in the first round in 4 of the last 6 drafts. Will he do it again?

www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagle...

A black graphic with orange text at the top that says "Tuesday, April 22 at 12 p.m. ET." Underneath that is a headline in white text it says "Reddit AMA: Breaking down the Eagles ahead of the 2025 NFL draft." Underneath is a subhead in white text that says "Coming off a second Super Bowl title, how will the Eagles approach the NFL draft? Ask The Inquirer's draft expert Devin Jackson." Underneath is orange text that says "Ask us anything in r/Eagles."

Have any questions surrounding the Eagles heading into the 2025 NFL draft? Inquirer draft expert @devinjackson.bsky.social is here to provide some answers on Tuesday, April 22 at noon in the r/Eagles subreddit!

Send in your questions here: www.reddit.com/r/eagles/com...

Eagles draft: Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders headline a quarterback class that features local talent Ward and Sanders are projected to be taken early in the first round, but St. Joe's Prep alum Kyle McCord and Downingtown West alum Will Howard have NFL prospects as well.

Taking a final look at the 2025 QB class, from the top of the group (Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders) to some Philly locals in this process (Kyle McCord, Will Howard).

Words on their strengths, weaknesses, and projected draft ranges:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagle...

NFL Draft media analyze favorite prospects in the 2025 class This year’s NFL Draft media collaboration features 31 unique analysts from outlets including Bleacher Report, ESPN, PFF, The Athletic, The 33rd Team, and more.

I brought together 30 personalities from around the NFL Draft space to talk about their favorite Day 2 and Day 3 prospects in the 2025 class. Check out 37 unique write-ups for free below! #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2025 #2025NFLDraft
Read full: sportstalk.substack.com/p/nfl-draft-...

Downingtown West’s Will Howard impresses Jon Gruden on the ex-coach’s rebooted QB camp The Ohio State quarterback was on the first episode of "Gruden’s QB Class." Gruden called Howard "a young Josh Allen."

Some takeaways from former Downingtown West QB Will Howard being on Jon Gruden's rebooted "Gruden's QB Class" including a comparison to Josh Allen:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/will-...

Eagles draft: The 2025 class is deep in interior offensive linemen. But will the Eagles wait past Round 1? The Eagles have Tyler Steen and Kenyon Green in the fold but players like Ohio State's Donovan Jackson and Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea could elevate the competition at right guard.

Broke down the interior offensive line class in the 2025 draft, and some options the #Eagles should be interested, from versatile G/T prospects to players I’m projecting to IOL:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagle...

Eagles three-round mock draft: Birds get upgrades in the trenches and add versatile piece in secondary The Birds add another member of the Georgia Bulldogs to their secondary, plus they find answers at interior defensive line and tight end.

Eagles three-round mock draft: Birds get upgrades in the trenches and add versatile piece in secondary:

www.inquirer.com/eagles/eagle...