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SPORTS Friday 3 February 2023

Portal to Pros: NFL teams eyeing rising number of transfers

By JOHN ZENOR Detroit Lions’ season while
AP Sports Writer recovering from a knee in-
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The jury and Jermaine Johnson
prolific pace of school- played in 14 games for the
switching among college New York Jets.
players has helped some This season’s prospects in-
NFL prospects have break- clude some who clearly
out seasons and demon- took advantage of their
strate they can adapt to a new situations.
new system. Linebacker Daiyan Henley
They’re hoping that pays went from second-team
off in the draft. All-Midwest Conference
Offensive lineman O’Cyrus as a Nevada junior to first-
Torrence followed his team All-Pac-12 and a But-
coach, Billy Napier, from kus Award finalist at Wash-
Louisiana-Lafayette to Flor- ington State.
ida and proved he could Ivan Pace Jr. became Cin-
thrive against Southeastern cinnati’s first unanimous
Conference competition. All-American after moving
He could get rewarded 40 miles down Highway
with being a first-round pick 27 from Miami, Ohio. Both
in April and doesn’t have are projected as likely mid-
to answer questions about round picks.
the level of competition he Tennessee quarterback
faced. American lineman O’Cyrus Torrence of Florida (56) lines up for the play during practice for the Hendon Hooker emerged
Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Mobile, Ala..
“I feel like it shows that I’m Associated Press as a Heisman Trophy can-
more versatile than it origi- didate in his second sea-
nally seemed, and that I a chance for more home- staff from different schools stock. It’s likely too early son after transferring from
could hold my own against work from NFL teams, which (and we) get their opinions to tell how the increased Virginia Tech. Hooker’s sea-
bigger, faster players,” said can evaluate how players and their input on a pros- movement affects players’ son ended with a torn ACL,
Torrence, an All-SEC se- made the transition from pect. You can be at one transition to the NFL. leaving him as a bystander
lection. “And just different one system to another and school and have four differ- Several first-rounders in last at the Senior Bowl practices
looks and different things get feedback from multiple ent offensive coordinators, year’s draft were transfers, in between meetings with
I faced in the SEC. It just college coaching staffs. though, so that’s the way including ex-Alabama and NFL teams. He’s not sure he
shows that I’m ready to hit “We try to keep up with it as it is here these days. These Ohio State wide receiver would have reached that
the ground running with best as we can,” said Matt kids have got to learn to Jameson Williams, Florida point without the move.
whatever team drafted Groh, the New England adapt.” State defensive end Jer- “It’s a long shot,” Hooker
me.” Patriots’ player personnel Some do it better than oth- maine Johnson Jr. (via said. Also a long shot, but
The transfer floodgates director. “But you can look ers. The Senior Bowl and Georgia) and Boston Col- not out of the question:
opened wide after the out there and there are East-West Shrine Game ros- lege guard Zion Johnson, him being a first-rounder,
NCAA’s April 2021 rule countless number of play- ters are loaded with players who started his college ca- though most projections
change meant they ers from this school, he was who played for multiple col- reer at Davidson. have him closer to the third.
wouldn’t have to sit out a at that school. lege teams in bids for more Zion Johnson became an How transfers handle the
year at another FBS school. “We keep up with all that, playing time, better per- immediate starter for the switch is more informa-
It’s created some more op- and really it’s just another sonal situations or chances Los Angeles Chargers, Wil- tion for NFL teams to sort
portunities for players and group of coaches, support to improve their NFL draft liams missed most of the through. q

Denver’s Michael Malone gets All-Star Game coaching nod

By TIM REYNOLDS Giannis, the team that will some teams that are dying
AP Basketball Writer be drafted by Milwaukee’s for the All-Star break and
Michael Malone might Giannis Antetokounmpo. can’t wait to go to Can-
coach Nikola Jokic in the Malone and the Nuggets’ cun,” Malone said. “No, we
All-Star Game. He might staff were locked into the are keeping our eyes on
get the rare chance to All-Star trip Wednesday the prize and we have to
coach against him, too. night when Portland de- make sure we play all the
Malone and the staff of feated Memphis. That en- way to the break.”
the Denver Nuggets have sured that Denver will have If Malone had plans to go
clinched their trip to Salt the top spot in the Western to Cancun or anyplace
Lake City for All-Star week- Conference when play else over the break, he’ll
end. Malone will coach ends on Sunday; the All- be leaving from Salt Lake
Team LeBron the team Star coaches are based City.
that will be drafted by the off which teams have the Jokic, the Nuggets’ cen-
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeB- best record in each confer- ter and two-time reigning

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts during the ron James in the Feb. 19 ence two weeks before the NBA MVP and certainly a
first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, matchup. game. candidate to make it three
in Milwaukee. Boston interim coach Joe “I say it every year and I in a row is the only Denver
Associated Press Mazzulla will coach Team told our players this. There’s player who’ll start. q