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RK PLAYER POS HOMETOWN HT WT STARS GRADE SCHOOL

1 CB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’1” 180 91

2 QB-PP Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’3” 220 91

3 QB-DT Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad High School 6’2” 190 91

4 CB Pinson, AL
Clay-Chalkville High School 6’0” 175 91

5 ATH Lilburn, GA
Parkview High School 6’1” 185 91

6 DT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 280 91

7 DE Duncanville, TX
Duncanville High School 6’3” 225 90

8 WR Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’4” 185 90

9 WR Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’3” 195 90

10 ILB Jefferson, GA
Jefferson High School 6’2” 230 90

11 WR Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’1” 180 90

12 DE Lee’s Summit, MO
Lee’s Summit North High School 6’7” 260 90

13 WR Temple, TX
Lake Belton High School 6’1” 195 90

14 OLB Conroe, TX
Oak Ridge High School 6’2” 205 90

15 DE Washington, DC
Friendship Collegiate Academy 6’6” 245 90

16 ATH Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’1” 190 90

17 DE Picayune, MS
Picayune Memorial High School 6’2” 230 90

18 QB-DT Willis, TX
Willis High School 6’3” 225 90

19 CB Waco, TX
Connally High School 6’1” 190 89

20 DE Tucson, AZ
Salpointe Catholic High School 6’6” 235 89

21 DT Conroe, TX
Oak Ridge High School 6’4” 255 88

22 WR Midlothian, TX
Midlothian High School 6’2” 175 88

23 QB-PP Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’0” 190 88

24 DE Vestavia Hills, AL
Vestavia Hills High School 6’5” 220 88

25 ATH Timpson, TX
Timpson High School 5’11” 185 87

26 WR Saint Louis, MO
Saint Louis University High 6’2” 200 87

27 DE Lake Cormorant, MS
Lake Cormorant High School 6’6” 270 87

28 QB-PP Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’3” 195 87

29 CB Cleveland, OH
Glenville High School 6’0” 185 87

30 DT Lafayette, LA
Acadiana High School 6’5” 290 87

31 RB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’11” 195 87

32 DE Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’3” 250 86

33 CB Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’2” 180 86

34 DT Chicago, IL
Saint Ignatius College Prep 6’5” 310 86

35 QB-PP Saline, MI
Saline High School 6’3” 200 86

36 OT Dorchester, SC
Woodland High School 6’8” 335 86

37 WR New Haven, IN
New Haven High School 6’1” 170 86

38 RB Longview, TX
Longview High School 5’11” 205 86

39 OT Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’5” 290 86

40 WR Foley, AL
Foley High School 6’3” 205 86

41 OLB Clanton, AL
Chilton County High School 6’3” 215 86

42 OG Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’5” 330 86

43 WR Moultrie, GA
Colquitt County High School 6’0” 175 86

44 ATH McKinney, TX
McKinney High School 6’0” 185 86

45 DT Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’5” 310 86

46 RB Belle Vernon, PA
Belle Vernon High School 6’2” 195 86

47 TE-H Moultrie, GA
Colquitt County High School 6’4” 225 86

48 RB Albany, GA
Dougherty High School 5’10” 205 86

49 CB Springfield, OH
Springfield High School 6’1” 180 86

50 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 250 86

51 WR Glen Ellyn, IL
Glenbard South High School 6’2” 185 86

52 TE-H Peculiar, MO
Ray-Pec High School 6’5” 230 86

53 OLB Miami, FL
Christopher Columbus High School 6’3” 230 86

54 ATH Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 220 86

55 OT Pinson, AL
Clay-Chalkville High School 6’9” 365 85

56 OLB College Park, GA
Woodward Academy 6’2” 220 85

57 ILB Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’3” 225 85

58 OG Waukesha, WI
Catholic Memorial High School 6’4” 310 85

59 OT West Roxbury, MA
Catholic Memorial High School 6’6” 285 85

60 S Blountstown, FL
Blountstown High School 6’2” 185 85

61 DE Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’5” 245 85

62 OLB Arden, NC
Christ School 6’4” 215 85

63 OT Dillon, SC
Dillon High School 6’7” 290 85

64 ATH Mableton, GA
Pebblebrook High School 5’11” 175 85

65 OG Seattle, WA
O’Dea High School 6’5” 330 85

66 QB-PP Avon, CT
Avon Old Farms School For Boys 6’3” 205 85

67 OT Pensacola, FL
Pine Forest High School 6’5” 280 85

68 CB Temple, TX
Lake Belton High School 6’3” 175 85

69 RB Northport, AL
Tuscaloosa County High School 5’11” 200 85

70 ATH Calabasas, CA
Calabasas High School 6’1” 175 84

71 S Rockledge, FL
Rockledge High School 6’0” 180 84

72 DE Avon, CT
Avon High School 6’5” 260 84

73 ATH Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 5’11” 205 84

74 DT Ramsey, NJ
Don Bosco High School 6’6” 285 84

75 CB Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra High School 6’2” 180 84

76 S Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’1” 185 84

77 WR Burley, ID
Burley High School 6’2” 175 84

78 OLB Largo, FL
Largo High School 6’4” 210 84

79 DE Youngstown, OH
Austintown Fitch High School 6’5” 240 84

80 WR Houston, TX
Clear Lake High School 6’1” 180 84

81 OT Erie, PA
McDowell High School 6’6” 290 84

82 DE Atlanta, GA
Booker T. Washington High School 6’6” 240 84

83 TE-Y Rochester Hills, MI
Adams High School 6’6” 220 84

84 OT Sugar Land, TX
Fort Bend Christian Academy 6’8” 330 84

85 WR Missouri City, TX
Hightower High School 6’3” 205 84

86 S Daytona Beach, FL
Mainland High School 6’3” 185 84

87 OT Logan, IA
Logan-Magnolia High School 6’6” 265 84

88 QB-PP Lewis Center, OH
Olentangy High School 6’2” 190 84

89 WR Silsbee, TX
Silsbee High School 6’2” 205 84

90 ATH Burlington, NC
Hugh M. Cummings High School 5’10” 175 84

91 OG Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 330 84

92 WR Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’2” 170 84

93 QB-PP Savannah, GA
Calvary Baptist Day School 6’3” 190 84

94 CB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’11” 180 84

95 WR Long Beach, CA
Millikan High School 6’0” 180 84

96 TE-H Portal, GA
Portal High School 6’5” 220 84

97 DE Cheshire, CT
Cheshire Academy 6’5” 235 84

98 CB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’0” 180 84

99 TE-H Jackson, LA
East Feliciana High School 6’6” 235 84

100 OLB Marietta, GA
Walton High School 6’4” 220 84

101 DE Melissa, TX
Melissa High School 6’5” 255 84

102 OLB Charlotte, NC
West Charlotte High School 6’3” 200 84

103 S Lancaster, TX
Lancaster High School 6’1” 175 84

104 OT Copperas Cove, TX
Copperas Cove High School 6’7” 285 84

105 ATH Houston, TX
Klein Forest High School 5’9” 165 84

106 OLB Salem, VA
Salem High School 6’4” 215 84

107 S Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 190 84

108 TE-Y Hiram, GA
Hiram High School 6’7” 245 84

109 RB Seattle, WA
O’Dea High School 5’10” 200 84

110 OT Marietta, GA
Walton High School 6’7” 350 84

111 DT Blountstown, FL
Blountstown High School 6’3” 280 84

112 TE-H Carrollton, GA
Carrollton High School 6’5” 215 84

113 S Sunbury, OH
Big Walnut High School 6’1” 200 83

114 QB-DT Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’1” 200 83

115 ILB North Hollywood, CA
Campbell Hall High School 6’3” 220 83

116 DE Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’7” 280 83

117 DT Birmingham, AL
A. H. Parker High School 6’4” 255 83

118 CB Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’3” 180 83

119 OT Draper, UT
Corner Canyon High School 6’5” 275 83

120 OLB Fairfax, VA
Fairfax High School 6’3” 225 83

121 CB Forney, TX
Forney High School 6’1” 190 83

122 TE-Y Woodstock, IL
Marian Central Catholic High 6’5” 240 83

123 RB Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’0” 185 83

124 S Denham Springs, LA
Denham Springs High School 6’3” 200 83

125 ILB Allen, TX
Lovejoy High School 6’2” 230 83

126 OT League City, TX
Clear Springs High School 6’5” 285 83

127 DE Leeds, AL
Leeds High School 6’3” 255 83

128 OC Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Academy 6’4” 270 83

129 CB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’2” 195 83

130 S Many, LA
Many High School 6’2” 200 83

131 DE Chicago, IL
Kenwood Academy High School 6’5” 215 83

132 OG Brookline, MA
Dexter School 6’5” 270 83

133 CB Jacksonville, FL
Mandarin High School 6’0” 185 83

134 DE Pascagoula, MS
Pascagoula High School 6’3” 255 83

135 ATH Swainsboro, GA
Swainsboro High School 6’0” 185 83

136 RB North Palm Beach, FL
The Benjamin School 6’0” 220 83

137 CB Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’1” 175 83

138 ATH Statesboro, GA
Statesboro High School 6’2” 180 83

139 CB Evergreen, AL
Hillcrest High School 6’2” 200 83

140 S Cincinnati, OH
La Salle High School 5’11” 175 83

141 OT Katy, TX
Obra D. Tompkins High School 6’7” 295 83

142 DE Tulsa, OK
NOAH HomeSchool 6’5” 240 83

143 S Orlando, FL
Maynard Evans High School 6’2” 180 83

144 OT New Palestine, IN
New Palestine High School 6’6” 300 83

145 ATH Daingerfield, TX
Daingerfield High School 5’10” 180 83

146 S Lewisville, TX
Lewisville High School 5’11” 175 83

147 DE Lawrenceville, GA
Mountain View High School 6’5” 260 83

148 RB Cincinnati, OH
Moeller High School 5’11” 195 83

149 S West Orange, NJ
Seton Hall Prep 6’0” 185 83

150 RB Salem, VA
Salem High School 6’1” 195 83

151 ATH Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 6’2” 215 83

152 OG Akron, OH
Archbishop Hoban High School 6’5” 290 82

153 DT Cheshire, CT
Cheshire Academy 6’3” 270 82

154 OT Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’7” 325 82

155 TE-H Meridian, MS
Meridian High School 6’2” 220 82

156 QB-PP Savannah, GA
Benedictine Military High School 6’4” 195 82

157 OLB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 225 82

158 ATH Ellaville, GA
Schley High School 6’1” 185 82

159 OLB Tampa, FL
Wharton High School 6’4” 205 82

160 QB-DT Little Rock, AR
Little Rock Christian Academy 6’4” 220 82

161 DE Allen, TX
Allen High School 6’4” 220 82

162 WR Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’1” 195 82

163 CB Lilburn, GA
Parkview High School 6’0” 180 82

164 ATH Starkville, MS
Starkville High School 6’0” 195 82

165 S Sacramento, CA
Grant High School 6’4” 190 82

166 CB Nashville, TN
David Lipscomb High School 6’0” 180 82

167 WR River Rouge, MI
River Rouge High School 6’3” 205 82

168 OC Loganville, GA
Grayson High School 6’2” 300 82

169 RB Mission, TX
Veterans Memorial High School 5’10” 195 82

170 DT Longview, TX
Pine Tree High 6’5” 270 82

171 ATH Hicksville, NY
Holy Trinity Diocesan High School 6’0” 175 82

172 OG Winthrop, IA
East Buchanan Community School 6’4” 270 82

173 ILB Tuskegee, AL
Booker T. Washington High School 6’2” 240 82

174 ATH Greenville, SC
Greenville Senior High School 6’0” 170 82

175 TE-H Algonquin, IL
H. D. Jacobs High School 6’6” 225 82

176 RB Duncanville, TX
Duncanville High School 5’9” 185 82

177 WR Gray, GA
Jones County High School 5’9” 160 82

178 OG Aiea, HI
Aiea High School 6’5” 315 82

179 TE-H Chattanooga, TN
Baylor School 6’4” 225 82

180 WR Virginia Beach, VA
Green Run High School 6’2” 190 82

181 TE-H Loganville, GA
Grayson High School 6’5” 215 82

182 WR Spring Branch, TX
Smithson Valley High School 6’1” 170 82

183 ILB Birmingham, AL
Hoover High School 6’1” 220 82

184 DT Fairfield, CA
Armijo High School 6’4” 295 82

185 TE-H Ainsworth, NE
Ainsworth High School 6’4” 210 82

186 ILB Yelm, WA
Yelm High School 6’2” 240 82

187 ATH Warner Robins, GA
Warner Robins High School 6’3” 195 82

188 S Warner Robins, GA
Northside High School 6’3” 200 82

189 OT Hesperia, CA
Oak Hills High School 6’5” 260 82

190 CB Orlando, FL
Edgewater High School 6’2” 180 82

191 TE-H Savannah, GA
Calvary Baptist Day School 6’5” 245 82

192 WR Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’10” 170 82

193 S Florence, SC
West Florence High School 5’11” 185 82

194 ATH Tallahassee, FL
Florida State University 6’1” 175 82

195 RB Waukesha, WI
Catholic Memorial High School 6’0” 175 82

196 S Saint Francisville, LA
West Feliciana High School 6’0” 185 82

197 TE-H Lake Oswego, OR
Lakeridge High School 6’5” 210 82

198 WR Lucas, TX
Lovejoy High School 6’3” 185 82

199 S Pearland, TX
Shadow Creek High School 6’1” 195 82

200 DE Miami, FL
Christopher Columbus High School 6’5” 230 82

201 WR Newport Beach, CA
Newport Harbor High School 6’1” 170 82

202 TE-Y Pickerington, OH
Pickerington High School 6’5” 230 82

203 QB-PP Winter Garden, FL
West Orange High School 6’2” 190 82

204 DT Bay Springs, MS
Bay Springs High School 6’3” 315 82

205 WR Missouri City, TX
Ridge Point High School 6’1” 170 82

206 OT Kansas City, MO
Rockhurst High School 6’7” 280 82

207 WR Brownsboro, TX
Brownsboro High School 6’3” 180 82

208 OT Leesburg, VA
Tuscarora High School 6’8” 300 82

209 DE Rowlett, TX
Sachse High School 6’4” 215 82

210 QB-PP Hattiesburg, MS
Oak Grove High School 6’2” 175 82

211 DT New Iberia, LA
Westgate High School 6’3” 280 82

212 WR Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 6’2” 200 82

213 CB Nashville, TN
Christ Presbyterian Academy 6’1” 185 82

214 S Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’1” 175 82

215 OT San Marcos, TX
San Marcos High School 6’7” 320 82

216 OLB Destrehan, LA
Destrehan High School 6’3” 210 82

217 RB Lufkin, TX
Lufkin High School 5’11” 210 82

218 OT Frisco, TX
Rick Reedy High School 6’5” 290 82

219 QB-PP Chandler, AZ
Basha High School 5’11” 170 82

220 WR Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic High School 6’3” 190 82

221 RB Missouri City, TX
Hightower High School 5’11” 170 82

222 DE West Bloomfield, MI
West Bloomfield High School 6’3” 250 82

223 DT Little Rock, AR
Wilbur D. Mills High School 6’4” 260 82

224 WR Aiken, SC
Aiken High School 6’0” 180 81

225 S Harper Woods, MI
Harper Woods High School 6’2” 195 81

226 OLB Nashville, TN
The Ensworth School 6’3” 205 81

227 ATH Chattanooga, TN
Baylor School 6’1” 190 81

228 RB Benton, AR
Benton High School 6’2” 225 81

229 DE Durant, OK
Durant High School 6’3” 260 81

230 ATH Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’0” 185 81

231 DE Katy, TX
Patricia E. Paetow High School 6’4” 215 81

232 WR Fort Myers, FL
Dunbar High School 5’11” 180 81

233 TE-H Odessa, TX
Odessa High School 6’6” 205 81

234 OG Atascocita, TX
Atascocita High School 6’3” 315 81

235 DE Mobile, AL
Mobile Christian High School 6’3” 210 81

236 S Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’3” 185 81

237 OG Lindale, TX
Lindale High School 6’5” 270 81

238 S Irvington, NJ
Irvington High School 6’2” 200 81

239 DE Deerfield Beach, FL
Deerfield Beach High School 6’4” 220 81

240 CB Tampa, FL
Carrollwood Day School 6’0” 175 81

241 OLB Katy, TX
Katy High School 6’4” 225 81

242 RB Andalusia, AL
Andalusia High School 6’1” 210 81

243 OG Fairburn, GA
Creekside High School 6’4” 290 81

244 ATH Baltimore, MD
Gilman School 6’3” 200 81

245 OLB Cheshire, CT
Cheshire Academy 6’3” 185 81

246 QB-PP Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’2” 190 81

247 OG Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic High School 6’3” 320 81

248 WR Harrisburg, PA
Bishop McDevitt High School 6’1” 185 81

249 DE Tucker, GA
Tucker High School 6’4” 225 81

250 QB-DT Philadelphia, PA
St. Joseph’s Prep School 6’1” 215 81

251 DE Clinton, NC
Clinton High School 6’3” 255 81

252 WR Charlotte, NC
Charlotte Christian School 6’2” 210 81

253 TE-H Cheshire, CT
Cheshire Academy 6’4” 220 81

254 OT Malvern, PA
Malvern Prep 6’5” 290 81

255 QB-DT Mobile, AL
Baker High School 6’3” 210 81

256 S LaGrange, GA
Troup County Comprehensive High Sch 6’1” 185 81

257 WR Saint Louis, MO
Christian Brothers College High School 6’0” 190 81

258 DT Atlanta, GA
Pace Academy 6’4” 295 81

259 OT Mukwonago, WI
Mukwonago High School 6’6” 275 81

260 WR River Ridge, LA
John Curtis Christian High School 6’0” 170 81

261 RB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 5’11” 195 81

262 CB Marrero, LA
John Ehret High School 6’0” 175 81

263 OT Kankakee, IL
Kankakee High School 6’7” 300 81

264 CB Philadelphia, PA
St. Joseph’s Prep School 5’11” 175 81

265 ATH Downey, CA
Warren High School 6’0” 180 81

266 OLB Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Polytechnic High School 6’3” 195 81

267 CB Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic High School 6’3” 185 81

268 QB-PP Cheshire, CT
Cheshire Academy 6’2” 205 81

269 ATH Pine Bluff, AR
Pine Bluff High School 6’1” 185 81

270 WR Lake City, FL
Columbia High School 6’0” 185 81

271 TE-H Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’2” 220 81

272 ATH Pinson, AL
Clay-Chalkville High School 5’10” 160 81

273 OT Avon, OH
Avon High School 6’5” 290 81

274 ATH Philadelphia, PA
Roman Catholic High School 5’10” 180 81

275 OT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’6” 295 81

276 WR Mesquite, TX
North Mesquite High School 5’11” 170 81

277 QB-PP Jacksonville, FL
Trinity Christian Academy 6’1” 220 81

278 ATH Fort Wayne, IN
North Side High School 6’3” 175 81

279 RB Sneads, FL
Sneads High School 6’0” 205 81

280 CB Moody, AL
Moody High School 5’11” 185 81

281 ATH Picayune, MS
Picayune Memorial High School 5’9” 175 81

282 DT Lexington, MS
Holmes County Central High School 6’3” 285 81

283 ATH Sardis, MS
North Panola High School 6’0” 190 81

284 WR Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 6’4” 205 81

285 TE-H Bellevue, WA
Bellevue High School 6’6” 220 81

286 DT Norcross, GA
Meadowcreek High School 6’3” 260 81

287 WR San Jacinto, CA
San Jacinto High School 6’0” 180 81

288 OT Leander, TX
Vandegrift High School 6’5” 260 81

289 ATH Beverly Hills, MI
Detroit Country Day School 6’1” 215 81

290 OT Vancouver, WA
Evergreen High School 6’6” 275 81

291 ATH Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 6’1” 180 81

292 QB-DT McKinney, TX
Emerson High School 6’1” 190 81

293 RB McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 5’10” 190 81

294 WR Anderson, SC
Westside High School 6’0” 180 81

295 ATH Cleveland, TN
Bradley Central High School 5’11” 190 81

296 DE Washington, DC
Gonzaga College High School 6’6” 240 81

297 CB Cincinnati, OH
Withrow High School 5’11” 180 81

298 QB-DT Fort Lauderdale, FL
Western High School 5’11” 190 81

299 RB Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 5’11” 215 81

300 WR Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 5’10” 195 81

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Rangers P deGrom (elbow) throwing, ‘feels good’

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Rangers P deGrom (elbow) throwing, 'feels good'

ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom already has thrown off the mound this offseason and said everything felt normal after missing most of his first two seasons with the Texas Rangers because of elbow surgery.

The three starts deGrom got to make in September were significant for him.

“That way I could treat it like a normal offseason and not feel like I was in rehab mode the whole time,” he said Saturday during the team’s annual Fan Fest. “So that’s what this offseason has been, you know, normal throwing. Been off the mound already and everything feels good.”

The right-hander said he would usually wait until Feb. 1 before throwing, but he started earlier this week so he could ramp up a bit slower going into spring training.

DeGrom, 36, has started only nine games for the Rangers since signing a $185 million, five-year contract in free agency two winters ago. They won all six starts he made before the end of April during his 2023 debut with the team before the surgery. After rehabbing most of last year, he was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 10⅔ innings in those three September starts.

“One of the things I’m most excited about is a healthy season from Jacob, and for our fans to see what that looks like, and how good he is,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “It’s just electric, and coming to the ballpark every day that he’s pitching, knowing that we’ve got a great chance to win the game, it’s an exciting feeling. Our fans truly haven’t experienced that over the course of a season. We’re excited and hopeful that this is the year they get to see that.”

Since his back-to-back Cy Young Awards with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019, deGrom hasn’t made more than 15 starts in a season. He started 12 times during the COVID-19-shortened 60-game season in 2020.

DeGrom had a career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings in 2021 before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then was shut down late during spring training in 2022 because of a stress reaction in his right scapula. He went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts over the last two months of that season before becoming a free agent.

His fastball touched 98 mph in the last of his three starts last season, when he pitched four innings of one-run ball against the Los Angeles Angels.

“In those games, you know, it’s still a thought in the back of your mind, you just came back from a major surgery and you probably don’t get another one at my age,” he said. “So it was, hey, is everything good? And then like I said, was able to check those boxes off in this offseason, treat it normal.”

Now deGrom feels like he can start pitching again without worrying about being injured.

“Just throw the ball to the target and not think about anything,” he said. “So, yeah, I think I can get back to where I was.”

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Source: Sarkisian lands new 7-year deal at Texas

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Source: Sarkisian lands new 7-year deal at Texas

More than a week after its season ended in the College Football Playoff, Texas has agreed to a new contract with coach Steve Sarkisian, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Saturday, confirming a report. The sides came to an agreement Friday night in a deal that includes an extension.

A source told ESPN that it’s a seven-year contract for Sarkisian, 50, that adds a year to his deal and makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

News of the agreement was first reported by The Action Network, which noted that the deal came after Sarkisian declined interviews with two NFL franchises for coaching positions.

The Longhorns, in their first season in the SEC, advanced to the title game and won two CFP playoff games against Clemson and Arizona State before being eliminated by Ohio State on Jan. 10 in the Cotton Bowl.

Texas played Ohio State tight before a late fumble return stretched the Buckeyes’ lead to 14 points. Sarkisian said being the last remaining SEC team in the playoff in their first year in the league is something the Longhorns take pride in.

“I really believe this is a premier football conference in America because of the week-in, week-out task that it requires physically and mentally,” Sarkisian said. “I know unfortunately for Georgia, they lost their starting quarterback in the SEC championship game, and I’m sure other teams in our conference had to endure things that can take their toll on your team, and that’s no excuse. At the end of the day, we have to find a way to navigate our ways through it, but to be here on this stage to be back in the final four wearing that SEC patch on our jersey, we’re going to do our best to represent it because this is a heck of a conference.”

Sarkisian arrived at Texas in 2021 after serving as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama in his previous stop. As head coach previously at Washington and USC, combined with his run at Texas, he is 84-52 overall. With the Longhorns, he is 38-17 and won the Big 12 title last season.

Texas will open next season with a rematch against Ohio State on Aug. 30 in Columbus, Ohio. In that game vs. the Buckeyes, the likely starter under center for Sarkisian will be Arch Manning, who backed up Quinn Ewers for two seasons and will soon get his chance to headline what will be one of the most anticipated quarterback situations in recent memory. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of Archie Manning came to Texas as ESPN’s No. 5 recruit in the 2023 class.

Arch Manning saw more playing time this season as Ewers dealt with injury, and he completed 61 of 90 passes for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. He also showcased big-play ability as a runner, breaking off a 67-yard scamper against UTSA and averaging 4.2 yards per carry.

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AD: Irish prefer independence over vying for bye

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AD: Irish prefer independence over vying for bye

ATLANTA — Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua said the independent Irish are comfortable continuing to give up access to a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff — something currently granted to only the four highest-ranked conference champions — as long as the fate of conference championship games remains the same.

“We’re comfortable that if conference championship games continue as they’re currently configured, part of the deal we made is that we wouldn’t get a bye, and that’s understandable,” Bevacqua said Saturday, speaking to a small group of reporters at the national championship game media availability at the Georgia World Congress Center. “And quite frankly, I wouldn’t trade that [first-round] Indiana game at Notre Dame Stadium for anything in the world, but you also have to be smart and strategic, and your odds of making a national championship game are increased if you get to play one less game.

“So I think a lot is going to depend on the fate of the conference championship games,” he said. “Should they go away? And that’s obviously not my decision. Should they be altered in some sort of material way where it’s not the top two teams playing for a championship, but something else? Then I think we absolutely have to re-look at Notre Dame’s ability to get a bye if we end up being one of the top four teams.”

Bevacqua’s comments come as he and the FBS commissioners prepare to meet Sunday to begin their review of the inaugural 12-team field, which will produce a national champion on Monday with the winner of Ohio State vs. Notre Dame.

Bevacqua is part of the CFP’s management committee, which is also comprised of the 10 FBS commissioners tasked with determining the format and rules of the playoff to eventually send to the 11 presidents and chancellors on the CFP board for their approval. The commissioners and Bevacqua will have a 90-minute business meeting to start to discuss possible changes for the 2025 season, which would require unanimity, leaving many CFP sources skeptical that next season will look much different.

Bevacqua said he thinks “there’s a chance” the group could agree on a change to the seeding, but one option that has been floated by sources with knowledge of the discussions is having the committee’s top four teams earn the top four seeds — which opens the door for Notre Dame to earn a first-round bye without playing in a conference championship game.

“I think everybody wants what’s best for the overall system,” he said. “It was interesting, when you think about those four teams that got a bye, they didn’t advance. Now I don’t think that has anything to do with the fact that they got a bye, I think that was mostly competition and happenstance. But I think there’ll be a good, honest conversation that will start tomorrow. Are there any changes that we ought to make from this year to next year and make something that’s worked really well work even better? Will there be changes? I’m just one person. I’m not sure.”

CFP executive director Rich Clark, who also spoke to a small group of reporters at the media day event, said some changes for 2025 would require “more lead time than a few months to implement,” so no major structural changes like the size of the bracket are expected for 2025.

Clark said the commissioners will talk about every aspect from “cradle to the grave,” including seeding and re-seeding possibilities.”

Clark said whatever changes are made for 2026 and beyond — the start of a new, six-year contract with ESPN — need to be determined by the end of the calendar year. That could include increasing the bracket size, possibly to 14 or 16 teams.

“We’re trying to beat that timeline,” Clark said. “We don’t want to obviously wait until the limits of it. So we want to move smartly on these things, but we don’t want to make bad decisions, either.”

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