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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum, two of the leaders of a team that went 15-0 and won the school’s first national championship in 26 years, announced Sunday on social media that they are entering the NFL draft.

McCarthy, a junior from La Grange Park, Illinois, passed for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2023. He completed 72.3% of his pass attempts.

“After three incredible years at the University of Michigan, I have decided to enter the 2024 NFL draft,” McCarthy wrote in a statement shared on social media. “I have talked to many in and out of football, including my family, Coach [Jim] Harbaugh, and many whose opinions I greatly admire and respect. The decision was not easy and how could it be — I love my teammates. I love my coaches and I love it here in Ann Arbor.”

NFL scouts have mixed opinions of McCarthy because he played in a run-heavy offense at Michigan. Some scouts are intrigued by his athleticism, decision-making and accuracy, while others have questioned his arm strength.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks McCarthy (6-foot-3, 202 pounds) as the No. 5 quarterback available in the draft. ESPN’s Jordan Reid projected McCarthy to be selected with the No. 12 pick of the first round in his latest mock draft.

Corum, a senior from Marshall, Virginia, is ranked as the No. 4 draft-eligible running back by Kiper; ESPN’s Field Yates ranked him as the No. 5 tailback.

“Michigan, thank you for the 2-4 season, and thank you for the undefeated season,” Corum said in a video shared on social media. “Ever since I’ve been here, you all have been by our side repping the maize and blue. Every Saturday, the Big House was packed. And if we played away, just know, y’all rode deep. Thank you for being the best fans ever.

“My four years here have come to an end, but I’m forever grateful for the memories we created. When I got hurt last year, I came back and promised y’all I would bring a national championship home. That’s what Team 144 did.”

This past season, Corum ran for 1,245 yards on 258 carries with 27 touchdowns (most among FBS players).

The 5-8, 213-pound senior came up big in Michigan’s two games in the College Football Playoff. He ran for 83 yards and scored the winning touchdown on a 17-yard run in overtime in the Wolverines’ 27-20 victory over Alabama in the semifinals.

Corum ran for 134 yards and scored twice in Michigan’s 34-13 win against Washington in the title game.

“Thank you to my family, coaches and everyone who showed support throughout my journey,” Corum said. “I have always said: football is my passion, but giving back is my purpose. Michigan, please don’t remember me for scoring 59 touchdowns and breaking long runs, but remember me as a great Michigan man who made a difference on and off the field.

“Even though I’m leaving, I won’t be gone for long. I left you with memories you’ll remember forever. Michigan will forever be home. This time last year, we had unfinished business and now I can say: business is finished and I’m finished as well. Thank you for everything. I love y’all.”

Corum and McCarthy are the latest Michigan players to announce their intentions to enter the NFL draft. Defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, guard Zak Zinter and linebacker Junior Colson also entered the draft in recent days ahead of Monday’s deadline for underclassmen to declare.

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QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

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QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who lost his starting job earlier this week, will not be returning to the team, he announced Thursday night.

Castellanos, who started 12 games last season and retained the top job under new coach Bill O’Brien, wrote on X that “unfortunately, all good things come to an end, even though it’s sooner than I would like.” He did not mention the transfer portal in his departing message and has not officially entered it. The junior from Waycross, Georgia, started his career at UCF and appeared in five games in 2022.

O’Brien said Tuesday that Grayson James, who replaced Castellanos in last week’s win against Syracuse, will start Saturday when Boston College visits No. 14 SMU. Castellanos “wasn’t real thrilled” with the decision, O’Brien said, adding that the quarterback decided to step away from the team for several days.

Castellanos had 2,248 passing yards and 1,113 rushing yards last season under coach Jeff Hafley, passing for 15 touchdowns and adding 13 on the ground. He had 18 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season, but his accuracy dipped in recent weeks, and he completed only 2 of 7 passes against Syracuse before being replaced.

In his statement, Castellanos thanked both coaching staffs he played for at Boston College and wrote that he had “some of the best experiences of my life in the Eagles Nest and I will truly cherish these memories forever.”

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Gators’ Lagway ‘ready to play,’ will start vs. LSU

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Gators' Lagway 'ready to play,' will start vs. LSU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is “ready to play,” coach Billy Napier said Thursday on his weekly radio show.

Napier removed Lagway from the team’s injury report and penciled him in to start against No. 21 LSU in the Swamp on Saturday.

Lagway practiced every day this week while progressing from a strained left hamstring. The highly touted freshman was carted off the field against Georgia on Nov. 2. Tests revealed a “less significant” injury than initially feared, and now he’s back in time to face the Tigers.

The Gators (4-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) need him. They have to win two of their final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible.

LSU (6-3, 3-2) has struggled mightily against dual-threat QBs, including Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Lagway returns after walk-on and Yale transfer Aidan Warner started in his place against Texas. Warner threw two interceptions and was 12-of-25 passing for 132 yards in a 49-17 loss.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

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Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

No. 12 Georgia will be without leading rusher Trevor Etienne for Saturday’s showdown against No. 7 Tennessee.

Etienne was downgraded from questionable to out on Thursday night’s SEC availability report.

Etienne left Georgia’s win over Florida with an upper-body injury on Nov. 2 and did not return. He played limited snaps in last week’s 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards.

Etienne leads the Bulldogs with 477 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season.

The loss is another blow to Georgia’s banged-up backfield. Cash Jones is also listed as questionable while Branson Robinson remains out after missing the past three games with a knee injury.

That leaves true freshman Nate Frazier as the only healthy Bulldogs running back who has played meaningful snaps this year. Frazier is second on the team with 333 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

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