Drew Berquist
7.8K posts
@drewberquist
God. Family. Country. Football. Former counterterrorism officer & host of Balls & Banter. Co-host No Party Affiliation https://t.co/haq8UYnLTb
The #Vikings are mourning the loss of Ring of Honor Safety Joey Browner. Browner, a 6-time Pro Bowler and 4-time 1st Team All-Pro, was named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and a part of the 50 Greatest Vikings announced in 2010. 📰: mnvkn.gs/4lTo4Da
We met with Michigan HC Kyle Whittingham ahead of the first spring practice. Here's everything he had to say: ▪️ Says he’s been able to get a solid feel for the roster already—what kind of athletes they have, what they’re about. Noted significant gains in the weight room. ▪️Describes the team as athletic with good movement, length, and strength. Emphasized that the players are “very willing and hungry to work.” ▪️On Bryce Underwood: clear No. 1 without a doubt. Has performed well in workouts, continues to grow as a leader, and is a team captain. Teammates look to him to set the pace. ▪️Encouraging Bryce to play off-script and use his natural ability. Sees plenty of room for growth, with strong support from dedicated QB coaches. ▪️Called Michigan “an incredible place” and “one of the pinnacles of college football,” citing elite athletes, resources, and high standards. ▪️Praised Jason Beck for doing a masterful job tailoring the scheme to player strengths. Highlighted Bryce’s dual-threat ability—can beat defenses from the pocket or with his legs. ▪️Practices will ramp up physically, with pads coming on the third day. Expects a tough, physical team. ▪️Emphasized a simple, “plug-and-play” system due to transfers and portal additions—easy to learn, quick to execute, and effective. Planning for some players arriving in summer to still contribute in the fall. ▪️Said nothing about the job has surprised him—it’s exactly what he expected, having followed the program closely and with extensive head coaching experience. ▪️Noted early buy-in from players when he met them in Florida for the bowl game. Despite high recruiting rankings, described them as low-ego and ready to work. ▪️QB2 has not been determined yet, but Tommy Carr has stood out so far. ▪️First-season expectations: disciplined football, minimal penalties, strong special teams, and a tough, physical identity. Wants a well-coached team that plays the right way. ▪️Said the GM is a “linchpin” hire and that leadership is fully aligned with the program’s goals. ▪️Compared to Utah (more developmental, 2–3 star players), Michigan’s roster is more game-ready. Mentioned Savion Hiter and expects multiple freshmen to contribute early. ▪️On leadership: spring captains and a leadership council are key. Plans to revote on captains in fall camp. Called player leadership the “governing body” of the team. ▪️Noted that JHD, Rod Moore, and Andrew Babalola will likely not be available for spring ball ▪️Reiterated that systems on both sides of the ball are designed to be plug-and-play. ▪️Expectations: compete for a Big Ten title and be in contention late in the season. Emphasized that handling Big Ten play will take care of everything else. ▪️On WRs: Andrew Marsh is a tremendous talent. Jaime Ffrench, Salesi Moa, and JJ Buchanan also stood out as the top group so far. #GoBlue
Breaking: The Raiders are sending QB Geno Smith and a 2026 7th-round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for a 2026 6th-round pick, sources tell @AdamSchefter. Smith returns to the team for which he started his NFL career for in 2013.
Lions signing RB Isiah Pacheco. (via @TomPelissero)
Iran Panel: War, Oil, & China—What Happens Next? x.com/i/broadcasts/1…
Police say a coach on the Cal State Bakersfield men’s basketball program was moonlighting as a pimp across four states. Multiple dismissals have occurred at Cal State Bakersfield as an investigation probes who knew what and when. spr.ly/6016hCOfK
