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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer made it clear Tuesday that Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has not been told he will be the top pick of the NFL draft.

Fitterer’s comment came 24 hours after Young canceled the rest of his pre-draft visits. Carolina has the No. 1 pick when the draft begins April 27.

“That was a decision he made on his own,” Fitterer said at the team’s pre-draft news conference. “I just refer you to his reps and to Bryce as to the why.”

With speculation intensifying that Young will be the top pick over Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Fitterer also made it clear that Young’s size (5-10, 204 pounds) will not be a factor.

Fitterer reminded everyone that he was in Seattle in 2012 when the Seahawks selected 5-11 Russell Wilson in the third round and that Wilson had only three balls batted down at the line of scrimmage his final year at Wisconsin. He then noted Young had only two this past season.

“This doesn’t seem to be an issue,” Fitterer said of Young’s height. “When you grow up a shorter quarterback, you learn how to evolve your game and adapt and see the field. He’s done that.”

Stroud, who was at Bank of America Stadium for his pre-draft visit Tuesday, was considered the early favorite to be the top pick because, at 6-3, he more closely resembled every quarterback new Carolina coach Frank Reich has worked with over the past 17 years.

Reich has never had a starting quarterback under 6-2.

But over the past few weeks, with Reich insisting Young’s height wasn’t a factor and many draft analysts agreeing Young was the better quarterback in large part because of his ability to process, momentum has shifted to the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner from Alabama.

Fitterer reiterated that he still hasn’t asked Reich whom he would select but said he believes they’ll be on the same page once he does ask.

“The reason I didn’t want to ask [Reich] that question was I didn’t want to close off our minds to where we, like, made that decision back in March,” Fitterer said. “But we do see things the same way. We value the same traits, the same characteristics. There’s certain things we really want, and that’s where the clarity comes from.”

Fitterer said the team continues to discuss all four quarterbacks — Young, Stroud, Kentucky‘s Will Levis and Florida‘s Anthony Richardson — brought in for pre-draft visits.

But a source close to the situation told ESPN midway through the process that Young and Stroud were the two quarterbacks being considered for the top pick and recently reiterated that that hasn’t changed. The source also said those were the two quarterbacks the Panthers were most focused on when they traded with the Chicago Bears to move from the ninth pick to first overall.

“I’d hate to be at 9 right now trying to figure this out,” Fitterer said. “So I know we made the right decision to go up there. The next step is going to be execution on draft day and giving these guys the resources they need beyond that to be successful.

“This is a big decision for the organization. We don’t want to lock on to something early on just to decide that’s our guy. We want to keep this process open all the way through.”

Fitterer also said he wasn’t looking to trade out of the pick — something he left open a month ago — but added that the Panthers will “always pick up the phone and listen.”

The only drawback on Young all along has been his size, but his overall frame and weight could factor into durability.

“Nutritionally, we can do some things to educate him,” Fitterer said. “When we get him into the weight room, you see when you really look at his lower body [that] he’s gotten bigger. He’s put on a lot of mass down there.

“A lot of times quarterbacks don’t want to lift upper body because they get a little bound up. But he’s naturally going to put on size as he ages.”

Fitterer said Wilson was around 206 pounds in 2012 and has bulked up to the 215-220 range.

“That’s something he can control, something we can help him with,” Fitterer said of Young.

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Utes’ Whittingham reenergized after ’24 free fall

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Utes' Whittingham reenergized after '24 free fall

FRISCO, Texas — A dynamic new quarterback, a new offensive system and two projected first-round picks up front have Utah coach Kyle Whittingham feeling enthusiastic about the Utes’ chances of bouncing back from a disastrous debut season in the Big 12.

Utah was voted No. 1 in the Big 12 preseason poll last year after joining from the Pac-12, but a brutal run of injuries and inconsistency resulted in a seven-game conference losing streak and a 5-7 finish — the program’s first losing season since 2013.

After weeks of contemplation about his future and what was best for the program, Whittingham, the third-longest-tenured head coach in FBS, decided in December to return for his 21st season with the Utes.

“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note,” Whittingham told ESPN at Big 12 media days Wednesday. “It was too frustrating, too disappointing. As much as college football has changed with all the other factors that might pull you away, that was the overriding reason: That’s not us, that’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”

“The bottom line and the final analysis was I couldn’t step away on that note. It was too frustrating, too disappointing. … That’s not us. That’s not who we are. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I did not want to miss the opportunity to try to get that taste out.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham on going 5-7 in 2024

Whittingham and Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley conducted a national search for a new offensive coordinator and quickly zeroed in on New Mexico‘s Jason Beck. Then they managed to land Devon Dampier, Beck’s first-team All-Mountain West quarterback, via the transfer portal.

After finishing 11th nationally in total offense with 3,934 yards and 31 total touchdowns and putting up the fourth-most rushing yards (1,166) among all FBS starters, Dampier followed his coach to Salt Lake City and immediately asserted himself as a difference-maker for a program that had to start four different QBs in 2024.

“He’s a terrific athlete,” Whittingham said. “He’s a guy that, if spring is any indication, he’s an exciting player, and we can’t wait to watch him this season. … He’s got that ‘it’ factor. He’s a leader. Needless to say, very excited to see what he does for us.”

They’ve surrounded Dampier with 21 more newcomers via the transfer portal and will protect him with two returning starters at tackle in Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, who are projected first-round NFL draft picks by ESPN’s Matt Miller.

“We feel they’re the best tandem in the country,” Whittingham said. “The offensive line in general, I feel, it’s the best since I’ve been there. And that’s quite a statement. We’ve had some really good offensive lines. We’ve got two first-rounders and three seniors inside that have played a lot of good football for us. That better be a strength of ours, and that’s what we’re counting on.”

Whittingham has previously said he did not want to coach past the age of 65. Now that he’s 65, he acknowledges that he might’ve arrived at a different decision about his future had the Utes ended up winning the Big 12 in 2024. He is reenergized about getting them back into contention, but he’s not ready to say whether this season might be his last.

“The best answer I can give you is, right now, I’m excited and passionate about going to work every single day,” Whittingham said. “As soon as that changes, I’ll know it’s time. I’m just counting on knowing when the time is right. I can’t tell you exactly what the circumstances will be other than losing the fire in the belly.”

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MLB to utilize ABS challenge system during ASG

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MLB to utilize ABS challenge system during ASG

The automated ball-strike system is coming to the All-Star Game next week in Atlanta.

MLB officials added the feature to the annual exhibition game knowing it could be a precursor to becoming a permanent part of the major leagues as soon as next year.

The same process used this past spring training will be used for the Midsummer Classic: Each team will be given two challenges with the ability to retain them if successful. Only a pitcher, catcher or hitter can ask for a challenge and it has to happen almost immediately after the pitch. The player will tap his hat or helmet indicating to the umpire he wants to challenge while any help from the dugout or other players on the field is not allowed.

MLB officials say 72% of fans who were polled during spring training said the impact of ABS on their experience at the game was a “positive” one. Sixty-nine percent said they’d like it part of the game moving forward. Just 10% expressed negativity toward it.

MLB’s competition committee will meet later this summer to determine if ABS will be instituted next season after the league tested the robotic system throughout the minor leagues and spring training in recent years. Like almost any rule change, there were mixed reviews from players about using ABS but nearly all parties agree on one point: They prefer a challenge system as opposed to the technology calling every pitch.

As was the case in spring training, once a review is initiated, an animated replay of the pitch will be shown on the scoreboard and the home plate umpire will either uphold the call or overturn it. ABS uses Hawk-Eye system technology which tracks the pitch trajectory and location in relation to the strike zone, providing an instant assessment which can be relayed to the home plate umpire.

The All-Star Game will be played at Truist Park in Atlanta on Tuesday.

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Royals sign former Cy Young winner Keuchel

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Royals sign former Cy Young winner Keuchel

The Kansas City Royals have signed former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, the team announced Wednesday.

The 37-year-old left-hander will start at Triple-A Omaha and will earn a prorated $2 million salary if he reaches the big leagues, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Keuchel has not pitched in the majors for nearly a full calendar year. He elected to become a free agent on July 18, 2024, after being designated for assignment by the Milwaukee Brewers.

In four starts with the Brewers last season, Keuchel had a 5.40 ERA in 16 2/3 innings without a decision. In 13 major league seasons, the 2015 American League Cy Young winner with the Houston Astros is 103-92 with a 4.04 ERA in 282 appearances (267 starts).

After pitching his first seven seasons with the Astros, Keuchel has made appearances for six different teams since 2019. He won a World Series with Houston in 2017 and is a two-time All-Star selection and five-time Gold Glove winner.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

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