Clemson QB Lawrence declares for NFL draft
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has made it official — he’s heading to the NFL.
Lawrence, the 6-foot- 6 QB with the power arm and flowing hair, released a video on social media Wednesday announcing he was leaving school and declaring for the NFL draft.
The Jaguars finished 1-15 and have the top pick in the draft and are expected to take Lawrence.
He finished 34-2 in his college career, leading Clemson to three Atlantic Coast Conference titles and the national title after the 2018 season. He finished second in the Heisman Trophy race Tuesday night to Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith.
STANFORD RECEIVER TO ENTER DRAFT >> Stanford senior wide receiver Connor Wedington announced on Tuesday that he will enter the NFL draft.
Wedington played in 31 career games, compiling 106 receptions for 971 yards and one touchdown. He also returned 25 kicks for 685 yards.
Soccer
MORGAN RULED OUT OF CAMP >> Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd have returned after missing most of last year as the U.S. women’ s national team prepares to open training camp this weekend in Florida.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski on Wednesday announced the 27- player roster for the Orlando camp, which will be capped by a pair of exhibition matches against Colombia at the end of the month.
Captain Alex Morgan, who said she has contracted the coronavirus, was among the players left off of the roster as the team prepares for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Water polo
OLYMPIANS START PETITION DEMANDING USA WATER POLO FIRE LEADERS >> Calls for the removal of USA Water Polo CEO Christopher Ramsey and board chairman Michael Graff were joined by at least 10 Olympians as well as former U.S. national team players and coaches, and ex-USA Water Polo and U. S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee board members.
Terry Schroeder, member of four Olympic teams and coach of the 2008 and 2012 U. S. men’s Olympic team, is among more than 200 individuals who signed an online petition shortly after it posted Tuesday.
Citing what it characterized as “the alarming history” and “pattern of behavior by the leadership of USAWP,” authors of the petition, who include former U.S. Olympic team captain Christopher Duplanty, requested the USA Water Polo dismiss Ramsey, the organization’s CEO since 2006, and Graff, the Irvine-based national governing body’s longtime board chairman.
Golf
LPGA COMMISSIONER TO STEP DOWN >> Mike Whan is leaving the LPGA Tour after 11 years as commissioner, a surprise announcement that comes just three weeks after he guided the tour through a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whan did not set a date for when he would leave. The announcement was described as the start of a succession plan.
T he a n nou nc ement comes two weeks before the LPGA Tour begins a new season, back to full strength going into the year.
Baseball
LAS OR DA DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL >> Tom Lasorda was discharged from a hospital in Orange County and is “resting comfortably” at his home, the Dodgers announced Tuesday.
Lasorda, 93, was hospitalized and admitted to the intensive care unit in early November for undisclosed, noncoronavirus reasons. The former Dodgers manager attended the franchise’s Game 6, title-sealing win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 27.
Lasorda has regularly attended games at Dodger Stadium since retiring from his managerial post in 1996.
Tennis
KASATKINA WINS 1ST WOMEN’S TENNIS MATCH OF NEW SEASON >> Daria Kasatkina and Maria Sakkari won their opening matches as the women’s tennis season began at the Abu Dhabi Open in the United Arab Emirates.
Kasatkina was the first winner of the new season, beating Wang Qiang 6-2, 3- 6, 6-2.