When quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders fell out of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, there were some who couldn’t believe he hadn't been picked by an organization, although it wasn’t considered a total shock. 

But with Friday night seeing three more quarterbacks not named Sanders come off the draft board, the reaction was pure shock. 

Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback who was a Heisman Trophy finalist this past college season, remains available heading into the third and final day of the NFL Draft. There have been 102 prospects taken off the board, and with Round 4 beginning at noon in Green Bay, everyone is wondering which NFL team will finally pull the trigger on Sanders. 

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Surprise and shock might not even be the words to describe this fall down the draft board, arguably being the biggest we’ve seen in recent memory for someone whom many considered to be, at the very least, a Day 2 selection.  

Why is this happening for Sanders? It’s the question on everyone’s mind, including ESPN’s Booger McFarland, who thinks the answer lies beyond the tape. 

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"It’s gotta be about more than football," he said during the NFL Draft broadcast on the network. "He’s the best pure passer you can draft. When you start to see developmental projects like Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel – and nothing against those guys, but they’re not nearly the player that Shedeur Sanders is. When they go before him, the only thing you can say is that it’s more than football."

Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints), Milroe (Seattle Seahawks), and Gabriel (Cleveland Browns) were all selected on Friday night in respective order. Gabriel, especially, was the icing on the cake for those who were baffled that Sanders hadn't gone off the board, as some experts didn’t have him on their top five quarterback rankings heading into the draft. 

Mel Kiper Jr., the longtime NFL Draft analyst with ESPN, has been adamant about Sanders’ talent, ranking him the highest-graded prospect on his big board. He was vocal about Sanders making it out of the first round on Thursday night, but he was appalled to see what happened the next day. 

"I think it’s disgusting," he said during a lengthy rant after Day 2 came and went. "I don’t understand what the heck’s going on with this. . . . Somebody’s gonna have to explain that one to me."

Joel Klatt, who called several Buffaloes games this past college season for Fox Sports, has seen what Sanders can do for a football program in person. 

During NFL Network’s broadcast, Klatt pointed the finger at the narratives that were built about Sanders during the pre-draft process as to a reason why he’s slipping. 

"Shedeur represents everything I dislike about the NFL Draft, and it’s only one thing: it’s narratives. It’s narratives that are built up, lazy, and quite frankly, trash. When you come out as an anonymous source about some meeting that you had, and you don’t think that some kid measured up to what you wanted him to be when he walked in your room, I think that’s trash.

"Shedeur Sanders is going to be a good quarterback in the National Football League, and I think he’s going to go make some head coach and some fan base very happy, because he’s already done that in his career in what I think is a very difficult spotlight for his dad at the University of Colorado and a program that was nothing before he got there for two decades."

SHEDEUR SANDERS STAYING CONFIDENT AS STUNNING NFL DRAFT FALL HITS FINAL DAY: ‘THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING’

At the same time, Klatt also believes this is time for Sanders to reflect, because the analyst feels it isn’t the tape that’s causing this freefall. 

"His play on the field would suggest he should already have been selected," Klatt explained. "There were some quarterbacks, their play on the field probably doesn’t warrant a selection over his play on the field. 

"The reason he’s undrafted at this point is because of the person that sat with those teams and did not, for whatever reason, jell with them."

It’s not just the analysts opining about Sanders’ draft situation – even President Donald Trump jumped into the mix to say how crazy it was. 

"What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith called it "a damn disgrace." Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who already has a young quarterback after taking Bo Nix in the first round last years, admitted his surprise and even the Buffaloes football account on X posted 10 minutes worth of Sanders highlights, just to remind everyone of how good he can be on the gridiron. 

These reactions are just the tip of the iceberg, as the football world continues to be bewildered at Sanders being available heading into the fourth round on Saturday. 

After the final pick was made in Round 3, Sanders, who has been surrounded by friends and family at home, including his father and Colorado coach Deion Sanders, posted on X. 

"Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING," he wrote.  

Of the teams still in search for a potential new quarterback on the depth chart, the Pittsburgh Steelers, believed to be an option in Rounds 1 and 3, remain a frontrunner, as do the Las Vegas Raiders. 

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Thirty-one teams made first-round selections on Thursday night (the Houston Texans traded back), and none of them selected Shedeur Sanders.

But then night two came, and more of the same occurred. In fact, the Colorado quarterback, who was once expected to potentially go in the top-five, was not even one of the top five QBs selected.

Three more quarterbacks, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Dillon Gabriel, were all selected on Friday; Shough at 40 to the Saints, Milroe to the Seahawks at 92, and Gabriel going to Cleveland at 95.

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Over recent days, reports have been tough on Sanders, with one assistant coach saying he was "entitled" and simply "not that good," while adding his formal interview was "the worst."

ESPN's Dan Orlovsky pointed out some plays that need fixing ahead of the NFL Draft, but his colleague, Stephen A. Smith, doesn't think Sanders fell because of football reasons at all.

"I believe that the biggest issue in all of this was Primetime Deion Sanders and the thought of having to deal with him," Smith said on Friday's "First Take," hours before the second round even began.

"It’s hard for me to sit here today and to watch a dude that was once projected to be one of the top two picks potentially in the draft to drop completely out of the first round and to ignore all those reports that had come out about him leading into the draft."

Sanders' father, of course, has been rather vocal, on top of plenty of NFL rumors, over his coaching days.

"If you think that I’m going to sit here and assume that that was strictly an evaluation about his football skills alone that led to him falling out the entire first round without his father having an impact, I don’t buy that," Smith continued.

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Sanders, at one point, was considered to be the 1B to Cam Ward’s 1A. Ward separated himself and went first overall to the Tennessee Titans.

But, in recent days, it was becoming apparent that teams did not love Sanders – the Raiders took Ashton Jeanty at six, and the Saints went with Kelvin Banks Jr. at nine, officially starting the Sanders fall.

All eyes were on the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. But as no one traded up in front of them, the Steelers’ selection came and went without a QB – they opted for Derrick Harmon.

The New York Giants traded back into the first round, but they opted for Jaxson Dart instead.

And then, rounds two and three happened.

The former University of Colorado star admitted that he and his family "did not expect" what occurred on Thursday night, in footage posted by his brother, Deion Jr.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said. 

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

Tomorrow was not the day, and if Saturday isn't it, then perhaps the NFL world will be left speechless.

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Gary Trent Jr. tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo also had 37 and the Milwaukee Bucks used a big second half to beat Indiana 117-101 on Friday night and cut the Pacers' series lead to 2-1.

The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo's three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter.

The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen's mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game.

Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons.

Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season.

Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

After trailing throughout Game 2, the Bucks grabbed an early lead. Antetokounmpo and Trent, who got a rare start, combined to score Milwaukee's first 21 points. No other Bucks player scored until Green sank a 3-pointer with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.

Milwaukee shot 4 for 23 from 3-point range over the first two quarters but was 11 for 18 after halftime.

Bucks star guard Damian Lillard was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. He made just 1-of-8 3-pointers.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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Shedeur Sanders went from being a top-five overall selection to not even a top-five quarterback.

Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Dillon Gabriel were all selected ahead of Sanders over the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.

It's an unprecedented, stunning fall for Sanders, who some mocks even had No. 1 earlier this offseason.

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After dropping out of the first round, Sanders admitted that he "didn't expect" the fall. He even became the culprit of a prank call who told him he had to "wait a little longer."

But, late in the third round, Sanders took the X to keep some confidence.

"Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING," he wrote.

Sanders had plenty of opportunities to be selected, but with three quarterbacks taken over him on night two, he clearly is not on many teams' radars.

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Shough went 40th overall to the New Orleans Saints. Then came the third round, where Milroe went 92 to the Seattle Seahawks, and the Cleveland Browns, who had numerous chances at Sanders, took Dillon Gabriel three picks later.

Earlier this week, reports started to shun Sanders, with one coach saying his formal meeting with the quarterback was "the worst," adding that he is "entitled" and "not that good."

Perhaps more teams are starting to feel that way.

Saturday will feature rounds four through seven, with over 150 picks remaining. The Tennessee Titans, who no longer need a quarterback, kick off the fourth round at noon ET.

The Raiders have the sixth pick of the fourth round, but at this point, it's anybody's guess on where Sanders will land.

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Shedeur Sanders was not selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft, in one of the most shocking slides of any top quarterback prospect in league history. 

The third round closed on Friday night with five quarterbacks being taken, while Sanders and his family remain uncertain about where and when his pro career will begin. 

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After Cam Ward was selected with the first overall pick on Thursday night, experts assumed Sanders would soon follow as the second quarterback selected. Instead, Jaxson Dart was the second quarterback taken when the New York Giants traded back into the first round to take him at 25. 

Early in the second round, the New Orleans Saints used the 40th pick to take Tyler Shough. Then, late in the third round, the Seattle Seahawks took Jalen Milroe at 92 and then the Cleveland Browns took Dillon Gabriel at 94. 

Dart, Shough, Milroe and Gabriel were all projected to go much later than Sanders by scouts and analysts, and early projections even had Sanders going above Ward at No. 1. 

Sanders led the Big 12 Conference with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdown passes and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. In his 50 college games, Sanders threw for 14,347 yards, 134 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. 

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For a quarterback prospect of that esteem to fall out of the third round is highly unusual in the NFL. 

Top prospects like Sanders have seen shocking slides in past NFL Drafts. Aaron Rodgers slipped down to the 25th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, and was passed on for Alex Smith by the 49ers.

Patrick Mahomes wasn't taken until the 10th pick in the 2017 Draft, and was passed on for Mitch Trubisky by the Bears. Still, at the time, Mahomes was less of a hyped prospect than Sanders. 

Lamar Jackson fell all the way to the 32nd pick in the 2018 draft, after four other quarterbacks were taken ahead of him. 

But Sanders, who was once considered the top candidate to go No. 1 overall this year, falling to day three of the draft, is a historic anamoly. 

To make matters worse for him and his family, Sanders was prank-called by an imposter during a livestream Friday night. 

While he and his family live-streamed day two of their NFL Draft party on Twitch Friday night, Sanders was seen answering a phone call that he assumed was from a general manager making the decision to draft him. 

Then the caller told the eager young athlete that he would "have to wait a little longer," as Sanders' smile quickly faded.

NFL teams' decision not to draft Sanders has prompted mass controversy and debate throughout the draft, and even prior to it as rumors of Sanders falling down draft boards became public. 

An anonymous NFL coach recently told the NFL Network Sanders was "the worst formal interview I've ever been in in my life." 

"He's so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates," the coach continued. "But the biggest thing is he's not that good." 

Another longtime AFC executive echoed that sentiment, telling the outlet, "It didn't go great in our interview. He wants to dictate what he's going to do and what's best for him. He makes you feel small." 

Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes seemingly alluded to Sanders' draft slide in an X post later on Friday, simply writing "Crazy." 

President Donald Trump even joined in on the debate on Friday, when he ripped "stupid" NFL owners for passing on the star Colorado quarterback and allowing him to fall into the second round.

"What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

"He should be "picked" IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!"

Now, Sanders will have to wait until day three of the draft to hear his name called, if it is called at all. 

However, he has seemingly expressed gratitude and patience throughout the process despite the dramatic slide. 

In an X post late Friday night, while the third round was coming to an end, Sanders thanked go. 

"Thank you GOD for EVERYTHING," he wrote. 

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After once being in the conversation to go top-five overall, Shedeur Sanders is not even a top-five quarterback taken.

Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart were first-round selections, but the New Orleans Saints took Tyler Shough with the 40th pick.

The Seattle Seahawks had the 92nd pick, and they pulled off a stunner by taking Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

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Three picks later, the Cleveland Browns, who had plenty of chances to take Sanders, went with Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

The Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Raiders earlier this offseason and brought in Sam Darnold on a three-year, $100 million.

Milroe isn't very known for his arm, but some scouts say he has some of the best raw athleticism of any quarterback in the NFL Draft.

Gabriel, meanwhile, transferred to Oregon for his final year of NCAA eligibility, and the Ducks were the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. But, they lost to Ohio State, who won the national championship.

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That's now five quarterbacks taken ahead of Sanders, who continues to fall.

The Colorado quarterback said on Thursday night after round one that he "didn't expect" to fall into night two of the draft, so one can only imagine what is going through his mind right now.

Milroe threw for 5,678 yards and ran for 1,257 in his last two years at Alabama. He led his squad to the Rose Bowl after winning the SEC championship in the 2023 season, but they lost to the eventual national champions in Michigan.

Gabriel finished in third place in the Heisman Trophy vote this past season, leading the Big Ten in both completions and attempts. He threw for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Quinn Ewers is also waiting on his name to be called - which would be as big a shock as anything.

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The emotional roller coaster for Shedeur Sanders plunged even harder during the second day of the NFL Draft. 

After falling to the third round and getting passed on in favor of two other quarterbacks projected to go much later than Sanders, he fell victim to an ill-timed prank call as the world watched. 

While he and his family live-streamed day two of their NFL Draft party on Twitch Friday night, Sanders was seen answering a phone call that he assumed was from a general manager making the decision to draft him. 

The 23-year-old quarterback had a big smile on his face as he answered and greeted the caller, with friends and family crowding around him. 

"I'm good, been waiting on you," he said. 

But the imposter on the other side told the eager young athlete that he would "have to wait a little longer," as Sanders' smile quickly faded.

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After the call ended, the crowd around Sanders broke out into concerned conversation, as he glared at his phone. 

Sanders has since ended his Twitch stream. 

Sanders' draft slide has been the biggest and most controversial storyline of this year's draft. 

After fellow quarterback Cam Ward out of Miami was selected with the first overall pick on Thursday, experts assumed Sanders would follow soon after as the second quarterback taken. But instead, Jaxson Dart was taken by the Giants late in the first round Tyler Shough was taken by the Saints early in the second. 

Both Dart and Shough were projected to go much later than Sanders by scouts and analysts.

At one point during the quarterback's slide on Thursday, his other brother, NFL safety prospect Shilo Sanders, insisted "something is going on" with Shedeur not being selected, as seen in footage posted by their other brother, Deion Sanders Jr.

"Bro, if they don't take you right now, it's something going on," Shilo said. "If they don't take him right now, it's something going on. I don't know what's going on, but it's something."

NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK MISTAKES THAT SHAPED LEAGUE LANDSCAPE

In additional footage posted by Deion Jr. Thursday night, Shedeur addressed not being taken in a speech to his family when the first night of the draft was over.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said. 

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

President Donald Trump even joined in on the debate on Friday, when he ripped "stupid" NFL owners for passing on the star Colorado quarterback and allowing him to fall into the second round.

"What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

"He should be "picked" IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!"

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman joined the debate Friday, suggesting Sanders slid because "America continues to fear strong black men."

"The NFL doesn’t like [Shedeur] Sanders because he wears gold chains and talks like a rapper. They don’t care that he’s a leader, intelligent, tough and completed 77% of his passes with no O-line and no running game. He’s entitled but Eli Manning wasn’t entitled when he refused to be drafted by San Diego?" Bowman wrote on X. 

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Shedeur Sanders' fall from the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft remains a hot topic. 

As the second round came and went Friday, the former Colorado quarterback still did not hear his name called. 

While Sanders was widely considered one of the top quarterback prospects entering this year's draft, criticism about his predraft interviews began surfacing leading into Thursday.

Sanders' tendency to hold the ball for extended periods was also scrutinized.

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That and other factors seemingly contributed to chatter that Sanders' stock was dropping ahead of the draft. Although the New York Giants signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, the team was still linked to Sanders. 

But New York opted to trade up for Jaxson Dart.

ESPN star and former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark had a strong reaction to his former team deciding against Sanders when they were on the clock in the first round. 

"What the hell!" Clark said.

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The Steelers used the 21st pick on defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.

"Mason Rudolph? Mason Rudolph!?" Clark continued.

"He went to Tennessee and got worse. You know what we're gonna do? Oh, let's wait for Aaron. Wait for Aaron to make a decision. We let Aaron Rodgers hold us hostage like we're a four. We the Pittsburgh Steelers! We're supposed to be acting like a 10. We acting like a four."

Sanders finished the 2024 season with 4,134 passing yards.

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The Las Vegas Raiders again passed on Shedeur Sanders in the second round, but it turned into an emotional moment for another NFL Draft prospect.

With the 58th selection, the Raiders landed TCU wide receiver Jack Bech, who was named the Senior Bowl MVP after his game-winning touchdown.

That magical moment came one month to the day after his brother Tiger was killed in the New Orleans terror attack.

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Tiger, who played college football at Princeton, was one of the 14 victims killed in the early hours of New Year's Day on Bourbon Street. 

The New Orleans native played for Princeton from 2016-2018 and was an All-Ivy League kick returner. During his three-year career, he caught 53 passes for 825 yards with three touchdowns. He graduated from the university in 2021 and pursued a career in finance. 

He was working as a stockbroker in New York City but traveled home to Louisiana for the holidays. 

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Jack scored the walk-off touchdown in the Senior Bowl as time expired.

"My brother has some wings on me. He gave them to me, and he let that all take place. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Tiger, nothing else but them. They're the reason I did what I did today. I attribute it all to them," Jack said after the game.

"It's been surreal just to be able to come and be in this game. It's a goal you set for yourself. But if I had the option if I came here, had the worst week ever, ruin my draft stock, but that means I could hug my brother right now, I would take that. 

"But, on the flip side of that, I don't think I could have had the week that I had if all that wouldn't have happened. His wings were on my side. Him and Jesus Christ are the reasons I was able to do all of this."

After he was selected, cameras caught Jack sharing emotional embraces with his family.

"All the big brother does in life is want to see his little brother succeed. He's been my role model my whole life, the person I looked up to, the person I wanted to be. He was the best big brother I could ever ask for. My whole goal in the rest of my life is to live his legacy on."

Jack caught 62 passes for 1,034 yards, nine of which were touchdowns, for TCU last season. He joins Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker, with fellow rookie Ashton Jeanty in the backfield.

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More than 30 prospects realized their NFL dreams Thursday night. Over the next two days, hundreds more will hear their names called as the 2025 NFL Draft continues.

Kelly Stafford, wife of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford, knows what it's like to support a football player during the draft process. Matthew was the top pick in the 2009 draft. 

During a recent edition of her "Morning After" podcast, Kelly was asked about where she was the night her husband was drafted by the Detroit Lions. 

New York City hosted that year's draft, but Kelly said she was not at the event. She then delved into whether players' significant others should be included on draft night.

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She seemed to argue against NFL prospects having girlfriends with them on the big day.

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"I don’t see why guys do it because, if they do get drafted, and you have all your family, and you’re in the draft, and you have your girlfriend and the girlfriend's in the draft pics. And then, all of the sudden, the girlfriend’s gone. You don’t have draft pictures without a random girl, and I know she’s not random when you’re taking it, but she might be random eventually. Do you know what I mean? It’s a serious thing to consider," Kelly said.

The Staffords tied the knot in 2015 and share four daughters.

Later during the podcast, Kelly mentioned how sometimes couples debate whether to include a sibling's partner in the wedding party if the couple is not engaged.

"It’s like having your brother’s girlfriend in your wedding when they’re not engaged. And then, all of a sudden, do you know what I mean? You have all these photos with your family and the brother’s girlfriend — and not mine, because mine [brother Chad Hall] got married to [sister-in-law] Rose, so we were good. Like, what happens if Rose didn’t marry Chad, and she’s in all my wedding photos," Kelly said.

Matthew spent the first 12 years of his career with the Lions. The Rams acquired Stafford in a blockbuster trade that sent Jared Goff to Detroit.

While the "Morning After" podcast does occasionally touch on football, Stafford and co-host Henry Winchester tackle a wide range of other topics, including navigating friendships and parenting.  

"I'm very vulnerable throughout this podcast," explained Kelly, "because I feel safe in this community, which is why I love it."

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Shedeur Sanders' draft tumble continues. 

After falling out of the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday, Sanders wasn't even the first quarterback taken in the second round Friday.

The New Orleans Saints chose former Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough with the 40th overall pick.

It came as a surprise to many when the Saints passed on Sanders in the first round with the ninth overall pick, as the 23-year-old Colorado Star's slide became more pronounced after falling past the Saints. But the move to pick Shough over Sanders in the second round was an even bigger shock to fans on social media.

Sanders was projected by some to contend for the No. 1 overall pick this year. Shough was projected by some to be the fifth-best quarterback in the draft. 

Many fans on social media were quick to post lowlights of Shough's passing ability, while critisizing the Saints' decision. 

But the Saints thought otherwise, and pulled the trigger on the underdog Shough with a hole at quarterback going into the 2025. 

The situation surrounding Saints' veteran Derek Carr has led to many questions over the past several weeks. What began as reports about a potential shoulder injury that required surgery was seemingly confirmed by Saints general manager Mickey Loomis only Wednesday when he said that Carr does have a shoulder "issue." 

NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK MISTAKES THAT SHAPED LEAGUE LANDSCAPE

So, Sanders continues to wait, while the NFL's owners and general managers explore other options. 

Earlier Friday, President Donald Trump ripped "stupid" NFL owners for passing on the star Colorado quarterback and allowing him to fall into the second round.

"What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

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"He should be "picked" IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!"

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman joined the debate Friday, suggesting Sanders slid because "America continues to fear strong black men."

"The NFL doesn’t like [Shedeur] Sanders because he wears gold chains and talks like a rapper. They don’t care that he’s a leader, intelligent, tough and completed 77% of his passes with no O-line and no running game. He’s entitled but Eli Manning wasn’t entitled when he refused to be drafted by San Diego?" Bowman wrote on X. 

"He’s not athletic, but that didn’t stop Joe Montana, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. America continues to fear strong black men who come from means and have a strong sense of themselves without submitting to the 'dominant' culture."

At one point during the quarterback's slide on Thursday, his other brother, NFL safety prospect Shilo Sanders, insisted "something is going on" with Shedeur not being selected, as seen in footage posted by their other brother, Deion Sanders Jr.

"Bro, if they don't take you right now, it's something going on," Shilo said. "If they don't take him right now, it's something going on. I don't know what's going on, but it's something."

In additional footage posted by Deion Jr. Thursday night, Shedeur addressed not being taken in a speech to his family when the first night of the draft was over.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said. 

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

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The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into the New York Department of Education (NYDOE) Friday over a Long Island high school's mascot. 

The NYDOE banned Native American-inspired logos and mascots for high school sports teams, which has made Massapequa School District on Long Island a target due to its continued use of the Chiefs mascot name. 

A 2022 mandate by the NYDOE demands that all public schools retire Native American mascots or risk losing state funding. Four Long Island school districts, including Massapequa, filed a lawsuit challenging the order, but a federal judge dismissed the case.

Now, the Trump administration is getting involved. 

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"The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools," U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in an announcement Friday. 

"While New York chooses to prioritize erasing Native Americans, their rich history and their deep connection to the state, it is requiring schools to divert time and resources away from what really matters: educating our students. It is not lost on the Department that there are several mascots that refer to indigenous or ethnic groups — the Vikings, Fighting Irish, the Cowboys — and yet New York has specifically singled out Native American heritage. We will investigate this matter fully." 

TRUMP SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SPORTS TEAMS ABANDONING NATIVE AMERICAN NAMES

The announcement of the investigation claims the Native American Guardian's Association (NAGA) filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR).  

The NAGA claims the New York Board of Regents is violating federal civil rights law by forcing the Massapequa School District to eliminate its Chiefs mascot based on its association with Native American culture. 

"The Native American Guardian's Association stands firm in asserting that the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York public schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students. We call on federal and state leaders to help us defend these dwindling expressions of our presence and contributions," said Frank Blackcloud, vice president of NAGA.

"Maintaining a respectable presence in NY State schools is vital to educational equity, historical truth and the civil rights of all American Indians." 

The president of the Massapequa Board of Education is quoted in the announcement thanking Trump's administration for getting involved.

"We thank the Department of Education and the Trump Administration for standing with Massapequa in our effort to preserve the Chiefs name and honor our community’s proud history. We’re especially grateful to the Native American Guardian's Association for its support and advocacy," Watcher said. 

"Attempts to erase Native American imagery do not advance learning. They distract from our core mission of providing a high-quality education grounded in respect, history and community values."

Trump previously spoke out in support of the school's right to maintain its name. 

"I agree with the people in Massapequa, Long Island, who are fighting furiously to keep the Massapequa Chiefs logo on their Teams and School," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Forcing them to change the name, after all of these years, is ridiculous and, in actuality, an affront to our great Indian population. The School Board, and virtually everyone in the area, are demanding the name be kept. It has become the School’s identity and, what could be wrong with using the name, ‘Chief’? I don’t see the Kansas City Chiefs changing their name anytime soon! By copy of this TRUTH, I am asking my highly capable Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to fight for the people of Massapequa on this very important issue. LONG LIVE THE MASSAPEQUA CHIEFS!"

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The Seattle Seahawks bolstered their offensive line Thursday by selecting Grey Zabel in the first round of the draft.

The former North Dakota State standout will soon be tasked with protecting first-year Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. 

But as attention shifts to Zabel's future, his past interaction with President Donald Trump is also coming back into focus.

Zabel and his North Dakota teammates visited Washington, D.C., April 9 in celebration of the football team's latest NCAA Division I FCS national championship.

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Before making their way to the White House, a few delegates and a special guest, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., delivered some remarks. Some Bison football players then reflected on their run to the title.

Once they made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., President Trump eventually met the football team in the East Room. Trump addressed the North Dakota State players and posed for photos. At one point during the interaction, Zabel's teammates pointed him out. 

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"Who is the best player? Let's see, who are they pointing at?" Trump asked. "Biggest guy? Come here."

Zabel then approached the president and shook his hand. 

"Is he that good?" Trump asked. "Wow. Boy, he's a big sucker huh?"

Trump then asked what position Zabel played, and the 305-pound lineman replied, "Offensive line."

North Dakota State's football team also visited the White House during Trump's first term.

Zabel started 41 games in five seasons at every position on the offensive line except center. He was an FCS All-American at left tackle as a senior last season.

The 23-year-old started the final 36 games of his collegiate career and figures to slot in on the interior of the Seahawks' line, which is in need of help. Zabel could quickly replace Seattle's starting left guard from last season, Laken Tomlinson, who is now a member of the Houston Texans.

The Seahawks are optimistic Zabel can be part of the solution for an offensive line that struggled mightily in 2024. Last season, the Seahawks surrendered 54 sacks, tied for third most in the NFL. The Seahawks, who went 10-7 last season and won the NFC West, ran the vast majority of their plays out of the shotgun formation.

The versatile Zabel could slot in at any of the five starting offensive line positions, but coach Mike Macdonald said he would start out at guard.

"Hopefully, we find a home for him at one position, and he lives there for a really long time for us," Macdonald said. "But I think it just speaks to his savvy. It’s not easy to find those guys that can play interior and at tackle. So, he’s one of them, and he’s ours now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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After NFL quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders was not selected in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday, many critics debated why on social media. 

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman joined the debate Friday, suggesting the reason Sanders slid was because "America continues to fear strong black men." Bowman also compared the 23-year-old quarterback to former NFL star Eli Manning, who refused to play for the San Diego Chargers after being selected with the No. 1 pick in 2004. 

"The NFL doesn’t like [Shedeur]Sanders because he wears gold chains and talks like a rapper. They don’t care that he’s a leader, intelligent, tough and completed 77% of his passes with no O-line and no running game. He’s entitled but Eli Manning wasn’t entitled when he refused to be drafted by San Diego?" Bowman wrote on X. 

"He’s not athletic, but that didn’t stop Joe Montana, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. America continues to fear strong black men who come from means and have a strong sense of themselves without submitting to the 'dominant' culture."

NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK MISTAKES THAT SHAPED LEAGUE LANDSCAPE

Bowman added in the video that he expects the Cleveland Browns to select Sanders with the first pick of the second round Friday night. 

"It's the way Shedeur dresses. It's the way he talks, and it's his culture, in my opinion. You see him at the draft last night. He's wearing all black. He got the L chain on, and he talks like a rapper," Bowman said. 

The first player selected in the draft was former Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who is also Black. Twenty-five of the 32 players selected in the first round Friday were Black men.

Broadcasts of the draft offered regular shots from inside the Sanders household in Texas as the family waited for Shedeur's name to be called. 

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The shots showed the family had installed a multi-layer shelf that included a cap for all 32 NFL teams. But the 23-year-old aspiring pro did not get to put any of them on in celebration Thursday. 

At one point during the quarterback's slide, his other brother, NFL safety prospect Shilo Sanders, insisted "something is going on" with Shedeur not being selected. 

"Bro, if they don't take you right now, it's something going on," Shilo said. "If they don't take him right now, it's something going on. I don't know what's going on, but it's something."

In footage posted by Deion Jr., Shedeur addressed not being taken in a speech to his family when the first night of the draft was over.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said. 

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

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General managers may not be fans of Shedeur Sanders, at least for a first-round pick, but the president is.

President Donald Trump ripped "stupid" NFL owners for passing on the Colorado star quarterback and letting him fall into the second round.

"What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. 

"He should be "picked" IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!"

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Sanders, at one point, was considered to be the 1B to Cam Ward’s 1A. Ward separated himself, and went first overall to the Tennessee Titans.

But, in recent days, it was becoming apparent that teams did not love Sanders – the Raiders took Ashton Jeanty at six, and the Saints went with Kelvin Banks Jr. at nine, officially starting the Sanders fall.

All eyes were on the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21. But as no one traded up in front of them, the Steelers’ selection came and went without a QB – they opted for Derrick Harmon.

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The New York Giants traded back in to the first round, but they opted for Jaxson Dart instead.

The Cleveland Browns own the first and fourth selections of the second round, and they are in quarterback hell with Deshaun Watson, already struggling, recovering from a twice ruptured Achilles.

The former University of Colorado star admitted that he and his family "did not expect" what occurred on Thursday night.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said. 

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

The NFL Draft begins at 7 p.m. ET Friday.

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The Tennessee Titans' selection of Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick of the NFL Draft Thursday was not a surprise. 

What was a surprise was Warren Moon showing up to Ward’s introductory news conference Friday to give the Titans rookie permission to wear his No. 1 retired jersey number. 

Titans' general manager Mike Borgonzi was with Ward at the podium when he told Ward of a special guest. 

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Moon then entered the room holding a Ward Titans jersey with the No. 1 and handed Ward the jersey. 

Moon played 10 seasons with the Houston Oilers, who later became the Titans. The Pro Football Hall of Famer played in the NFL 17 seasons and made the Pro Bowl nine times. 

The Titans hope Ward follows Moon to the Hall of Fame. 

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Miami went 10-3 last season with Ward under center. He completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards, and he led the ACC with 39 passing touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions. 

Will Levis was the Titans' starting quarterback last season, and he and the team struggled.

The Titans went 3-14 in Brian Callahan’s first season as head coach. 

Entering the season, the team hoped Levis would take a jump after he started nine games at quarterback in his rookie year and showed some promise.

However, Levis played poorly as the team went 2-10 in his 12 starts. He completed 63.1% of his passes for 2,091 yards and threw 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. As Levis continued to struggle, it became apparent the team would be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. 

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After Derrick Harmon was the 21st overall pick Thursday, the newest Pittsburgh Steeler had to break the news to his mother.

Harmon was unable to watch the draft with his mother because she was on life support in a hospital.

Harmon said getting drafted was "bittersweet" because he couldn't spend it with his mom. 

Right after being selected, Harmon traveled to a hospital to visit his mother, Tiffany Saine, and tell her "her son got drafted."

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According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Saine died shortly after.

Harmon, a defensive tackle, was taken by the Steelers.

Harmon said his mother had a stroke when he was a freshman at Michigan State, which left her paralyzed on her left side. She had "about eight brain surgeries," Harmon said.

"She's the reason I'm here. She's the reason I did everything up to this point," Harmon said.

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Harmon also said he used his NIL money to buy his mother an accessible van.

"Man, how resilient she was, man. Just growing up from my standpoint, my situation, I grew up with her having probably seven, eight brain surgeries," Harmon said after being selected. "And after all those brain surgeries, man, she did not give up. 

"She still took me to practice, still went to work. Always the back in my head from the beginning of my college career was, 'Why can't I keep going? If I'm tired, I'm injured, whatever it is, why can't I keep going, if she can get up and she can keep going after brain surgeries.'

"So just her resilience and her hard work, really. She was my inspiration."

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Harmon spent three seasons at Michigan State before transferring to Oregon, where he blossomed into a disruptive force. Harmon was a second-team All-American last season while finishing with five sacks and 10½ tackles for loss for the Ducks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The New York Giants appeared to ruffle feathers among Deion Sanders' family during the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday.

The Giants' decision to trade into the bottom of the first round for a quarterback but pass on Shedeur Sanders in favor of Jaxson Dart was one of the more controversial moments of the night. Sanders was projected to be a much higher pick months ahead of the draft and was even considered the leading candidate to go No. 1 overall by some. 

Shedeur's brother, Deion Sanders Jr., shared a post on X by former Eagles star LeSean McCoy, who mocked the Giants for their decision to take Dart. 

"This is crazy !!! No wonder the GAINTS DONT WIN SH……" McCoy wrote. 

NFL DRAFT QUARTERBACK MISTAKES THAT SHAPED LEAGUE LA

Deion Jr. then re-shared several bible quotes he posted earlier Friday and sent a cryptic message that said, "The REJECTED WILL BE RESPECTED."

Broadcasts of the draft offered regular shots from inside the Sanders household in Texas as the family waited for Shedeur's name to be called. 

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The shots showed the family had installed a multi-layer shelf that included a cap for all 32 NFL teams. But the 23-year-old aspiring pro did not get to put any of them on in celebration Thursday. 

At one point during the quarterback's slide, his other brother, NFL safety prospect Shilo Sanders, insisted "something is going on" with Shedeur not being selected. 

"Bro, if they don't take you right now, it's something going on," Shilo said. "If they don't take him right now, it's something going on. I don't know what's going on, but it's something."

In footage posted by Deion Jr., Shedeur addressed not being taken in a speech to his family when the first night of the draft was over.

"We all didn't expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything possible, everything possible. I don't feel like this happened for no reason. All of this is, of course, fuel to the fire. Under no circumstances did we all know this was going to happen, but we understand we on to bigger and better things," the quarterback said. 

"Tomorrow's the day. We going to be happy regardless. Legendary."

Shedeur's NFL value was questioned in the weeks leading up to the draft amid concerns about his character. 

An anonymous NFL coach recently told the NFL Network Sanders was "the worst formal interview I've ever been in in my life." 

"He's so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates," the coach added. "But the biggest thing is he's not that good." 

Another longtime AFC executive echoed that sentiment, telling the outlet, "It didn't go great in our interview. He wants to dictate what he's going to do and what's best for him. He makes you feel small." 

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Alijah Arenas, son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas, is reportedly out of his induced coma some 24 hours after being involved in a serious car accident.

Arenas, 18, remained intubated, but the development in his recovery has been "remarkable and hopeful," an Arenas family rep said, according to TMZ Sports. 

Arenas was traveling in his Tesla Cybertruck shortly before 5 a.m. on Thursday in Los Angeles when the crash occurred, per reports. 

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Arenas' family shared a statement from one of the people who helped him out of the car after the wreck. 

"I remember hearing banging on the car window, but I couldn’t see anything because the smoke was so thick," the person said via TMZ Sports. 

ALIJAH ARENAS, SON OF EX-NBA STAR GILBERT ARENAS, IN INDUCED COMA AFTER SERIOUS VEHICLE CRASH: REPORTS

"That’s when I realized someone was inside. I tried to break the window, but it wouldn't give. Then I saw one of the windows was cracked just enough, and we used everything we had to bend it and pull him out. The car was on fire. We just knew we had to get him out."

Arenas recently committed to the USC Trojans' men's basketball team. 

Arenas was one of the top-ranked shooting guards in the class of 2026, and recently reclassified as a senior to allow him to graduate high school in 2025 and go to college a year earlier.

His father, Gilbert Arenas, played in the NBA for 12 seasons. He was a three-time All-Star and spent eight seasons with the Washington Wizards, two with the Golden State Warriors and one season each with the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies. 

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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

It was an emotional night for Will Campbell, the fourth overall selection in the NFL Draft Thursday.

The New England Patriots nabbed the LSU offensive lineman to protect Drake Maye, and Campbell couldn't help but hold back tears.

"It means everything to me," Campbell said. "I'm gonna fight and die to protect them with everything I got."

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But something else was on his mind on draft night. His former LSU teammate, Kyren Lacy, died last week from a self-inflicted gunshot.

At the draft, Campbell wore a pin with Lacy's No. 2 on his lapel.

"Kyren is a special human being. I feel for his family. They've been through a lot lately. He's got such a great family. He was not only a good football player. He was such a good teammate, a good son, a good older brother and just a good dude in general," Campbell said.

"It's just terrible, everything that's happened. I'm sending many prayers to his family because he was gonna get his name called this weekend. … Even though his name won't be called, he's going to walk across that stage. He's here with us in spirit, and it was an honor to be a part of his journey."

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The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received a call about a man, identified as Lacy, who was arguing with a family member when he shot a gun into the ground, according to FOX 26 Houston. Officials learned Lacy had fled and launched a search after him.

Officials said deputies tried to pull over Lacy, but he led them on a car chase that went on for miles. Lacy then crashed his vehicle in Spring, according to authorities.

Responding deputies removed Lacy from the vehicle to take him into custody, but he was found with a "self-inflicted gunshot wound" and pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said.

The wide receiver was under investigation in Louisiana for a crash in December that left a 78-year-old man dead, officials said in January. 

Lacy transferred to LSU in 2022. He had his best season in 2024, when he had 58 catches for 866 yards and nine touchdowns.

Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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