Georgia linebacker to enter NFL draft

Linebacker Roquan Smith, the leader of a defense that led Georgia to the national championship game, is entering the NFL draft.

The decision announced by Smith, the Butkus Award winner, was expected. He enjoyed a strong junior season, which boosted his draft status.

Smith was named a firstteam All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He led Georgia with 137 tackles, 6½ sacks and 17 quarterback hurries. At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, Smith is seen as a possible firstround draft pick.

Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is returning for his senior season, giving the Tigers one more season with their defensive line intact.

Quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels, a Bellarmine-San Jose alum who was a backup to Jake Browning at Washington, will enroll at UCLA and be eligible to play in the coming season as a graduate transfer student, CBS Sports reported.

Two quarterbacks said they would transfer, North Carolina State redshirt senior Jalan McClendon, who would be eligible immediately as a graduate transfer, and Tennessee junior Quinten Dormady, who lost his starting job and suffered a season-ending injury. Baseball: Justin Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP and Minnesota Twins first baseman whose career was derailed by concussion symptoms, is retiring after 1,603 hits and 247 home runs in 14 major-league seasons.

Morneau didn’t play in 2017. He appeared in 58 games for the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

Right-handed reliever Addison Reed and Minnesota have finalized a $16.75 million, twoyear contract, putting another pitcher with closing experience in the back of the Twins’ bullpen. The Twins agreed to a deal with right-hander Fernando Rodney earlier in the offseason.

The Nationals agreed to a $7 million, two-year contract with outfielder Howie Kendrick.