Stanford’s Drew Dalman, son of former 49ers lineman, declares for NFL draft
Senior center Drew Dalman announced on Tuesday that he will enter the 2021 NFL draft.
Dalman, from Salinas, earned a grade of 84.8 from Pro Football Focus that was the highest among all centers in the Pac-12. Behind Dalman, who started 18 consecutive games for the Cardinal to end his career, Stanford averaged 420 yards per game.
Dalman earned first team All-Pac-12 honors in 2020 after earning second team recognition in 2019. His father, Chris Dalman, also played at Stanford before and spent seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Dalman plans to finish his degree in mechanical engineering and graduate in June 2021.
TIDE’S DEVONTA SMITH THE 1STWR TOWINAP PLAYER OF THE YEAR >> DeVonta Smith of Alabama is The Associated Press college football player of the year and the first wide receiver to win the award since it was established in 1998.
In what could be a preview of the Heisman Trophy voting, Smith received 26 first-place votes and 114 points to finish comfortably ahead of his teammate and quarterback, Mac Jones.
Jones received nine firstplace votes and 67 points as he and Smith became the first teammates to finish 1-2 in the voting for AP player of the year.
TEXAS BOWL CANCELED, COVID-19 A MAJOR FACTOR >> The Texas Bowl has been canceled because of an increase of positive COVID-19 tests within TCU’s program, becoming the 19th bowl canceled this season.
The Horned Frogs were supposed to play Arkansas on New Year’s Eve in Houston.
College basketball
ARIZONA MEN’S BASKETBALL SELF-IMPOSES 1-YEAR POSTSEASON BAN >> The Arizona men’s basketball program has self-imposed a one-year postseason ban related to its long-running NCA A rules infractions case.
Arizona was accused of nine counts of misconduct, including five Level I violations, in a Notice of Allegations sent by the NCAA in October. The violations include a lack of institutional control and failure to monitor by the university, and lack of head coach control by basketball coach Sean Miller.
Baseball
DODGERS GET PITCHER IN 3-WAY TRADE WITH RAYS, PHILLIES >> The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Garrett Cleavinger from the Phillies in a three-way trade Tuesday involving Tampa Bay and Philadelphia.
The Dodgers will send minor league infielder Dillon Paulson and a player to be named or cash to Tampa Bay, while the Rays will send left-handed pitcher José Alvarado to Philadelphia to complete the transaction.
Cleavinger, a 26-year-old left-hander, made his major league debut last season for the Phillies, tossing two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout on Sept. 17 against the Mets.
Alvarado was limited to nine appearances last season because of left shoulder inflammation.
PADRES FINALIZE DEAL ACQUIRING ACE BLAKE SNELL FROM RAYS >> The San Diego Padres finalized their acquisition of ace lefthander Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays, sending four prospects in exchange for the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner.
The Rays will receive right-handers Luis Patiño and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejía and Blake Hunt in the deal.
Snell gives the ascending Padres an established ace at the front of the rotation as they attempt to catch the Dodgers in the NL West. San Diego is also working to finalize a deal for Chicago Cubs starter Yu Darvish, according to reports from ESPN, The Athletic and others.
FORMER A’S PITCHER MENGDEN SIGNS WITH TEAM IN SOUTH KOREA >> Daniel Mengden is set to pitch in South Korea next season after agreeing to a $725,000, one-year contract with the Kia Tigers.
The right-hander spent the past five seasons with the Oakland Athletics, going 17-20 with a 4.64 ERA in 48 starts and 12 relief appearances. He was 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA in four games, including one start, during the pandemic- shortened 2020 season.