Brown intends to return to Tar Heels next season
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Andrea Adelson, ESPN Senior Writer
North Carolina coach Mack Brown said Monday that he intends to return to the Tar Heels next season, although he has not yet had any discussions about his future with athletic director Bubba Cunningham.
Brown, 73, was asked during his weekly news conference about his future and said, “You never talk to your athletic director until the year’s over. Everybody always does that. My total focus is on NC State. What an awful thing to be talking about me when we just played a bad game and need to beat State.”
Asked directly whether it was his intention to return, Brown said, “Yes.”
North Carolina heads into its rivalry game against the Wolfpack at 6-5, off a noncompetitive 41-21 loss to Boston College. The season has been a roller coaster, to say the least. After a 70-50 loss to James Madison on Sept. 21, Brown told his Tar Heels he would walk away if the team felt he could no longer do the job. From that point forward, his job status has been the subject of speculation — particularly through a four-game slide that had North Carolina 3-4 headed into an open date.
The Tar Heels then had to deal with the loss of receiver Tylee Craft, who died 2½ years after being diagnosed with cancer. In a recent interview with ESPN, Brown said his perspective changed after losing Craft.
“I realized at that time the team needed me more than ever before. So, probably more than any other time in my career, in my life, I feel like these kids and these coaches need me to step up and be strong and try to help them learn to navigate through these storms and this turmoil,” Brown said.
North Carolina then won three in a row, and reports surfaced last week that he intended to stay with the Tar Heels. But the loss to BC revived the speculation about his future.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Alabama star linebacker Deontae Lawson is out for the remainder of the year with a significant lower leg injury, Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed Monday. Lawson is Alabama’s second-leading tackler and considered a top prospect at his position for the upcoming NFL draft.
Lawson suffered the injury against Oklahoma on Saturday. He was taken to the locker room and quickly ruled out of the game.
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack had said his news conference Monday that Lawson wouldn’t play for the No. 13 Crimson Tide against Auburn this week. He declined to comment further, deferring to DeBoer.
Lawson is Alabama’s second-leading tackler with 76. He’s also one of the defense’s most productive players, as he has four deflected passes, an interception, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He also has a pair of sacks.
The junior from Mobile is draft-eligible and considered one of the top linebackers. It’s uncertain how this injury will impact his upcoming decision, however.
Among ESPN analysts, Lawson is Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 5 linebacker and is ranked No. 3 by Jordan Reid and Field Yates.
Alabama is 8-3 on the season after losing to Oklahoma 24-3 in Norman.
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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer
Georgia running back Trevor Etienne might be sidelined for a couple of more weeks with a rib injury, but the No. 10 Bulldogs’ thin backfield could be getting a little deeper before a potential CFP appearance.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart told reporters Monday that tailbacks Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson II are ramping up their reps in practice and could be close to returning.
Georgia plays rival Georgia Tech at home Friday night (7:30 pm. ET, ABC/ESPN+). The Bulldogs will face the winner of Saturday night’s game between No. 3 Texas and No. 15 Texas A&M in the SEC championship game on Dec. 7.
“Branson and Rod have both looked good in the last week in terms of picking up their pace, running, cutting,” Smart said. “We’re going to progress them today. They’re going to do more today than they have. I guess y’all saw them run Saturday. They did more yesterday. We’re day by day with those guys, but there’s a possibility so we’re excited about them getting back to work.”
Etienne, a Florida transfer, had emerged as Georgia’s top tailback with 477 yards with seven scores. He didn’t play in last week’s 59-21 victory over UMass and had only 13 carries combined in games against Ole Miss and Florida.
In Etienne’s absence, freshman Nate Frazier has carried the load. He ran for a career-high 136 yards with three touchdowns against the Minutemen.
Branson Robinson, the No. 1 running back prospect in the Class of 2022, according to ESPN Recruiting, missed the past four games with a sprained MCL. He was sidelined for all of the 2023 season while recovering from a torn ACL.
Roderick Robinson was Georgia’s top returning rusher from 2023 but missed the first 11 games after suffering a turf toe injury in the preseason that required surgery.
Smart said defensive lineman Christen Miller is questionable to play against Georgia Tech after suffering a dislocated shoulder against UMass, while Smart is hoping that receivers Dillon Bell (ankle) and Anthony Evans (hamstring) will be able to return.
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Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Penn State‘s narrow win Saturday at Minnesota came with a cost, as starting offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh and reserve defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. both are sidelined with “long-term injuries,” coach James Franklin said Monday.
Donkoh suffered a right knee injury while pass blocking in the first quarter against Minnesota. He later appeared on the sideline with crutches. Nolan Rucci, a transfer from Wisconsin, replaced Donkoh against Minnesota and will start this week in the regular-season finale against Maryland at Beaver Stadum. Donkoh, a redshirt freshman, also sustained an injury Oct. 26 at Wisconsin and did not start the following week against Ohio State.
Earlier this month, Donkoh was named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award.
Ford, a key part of Penn State’s defensive tackle rotation, also was injured in the first half at Minnesota with a lower-body injury. He had 3.5 tackles for loss and 16 total tackles while appearing in all 11 games this season.
Penn State likely needs a win against Maryland to secure its first College Football Playoff appearance.
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