FSU receiver Wilson going pro, will skip Orange Bowl; semifinals Thursday night for NBA in-season tourney
Florida State wide receiver Johnny Wilson
intends to declare for the NFL Draft and will not play in the Seminoles’ upcoming Orange Bowl game against Georgia, the player told ESPN.
His announcement came days after the College Football Playoff selection committee declined to invite Florida State to the four-team national semifinals despite finishing as undefeated ACC champions.
Wilson (6-foot-7 and
237 pounds) was the Seminoles’ leading wide receiver in 2022 and was second on the team this season with 617 receiving yards (and two touchdowns), behind transfer wide receiver Keon Coleman,
who had 658 yards with 11 touchdown catches.
“I wanted to finish the season with an opportunity to compete for the national championship,” he told ESPN. “That didn't happen. I knew this was going to be my last year. I put what I wanted to put on film and did what I normally do on the field. It felt like it was that time. I did what I could here."
Wilson finishes his college career with 102 receptions for 1,757 yards and eight TD catches.
Top defensive player named: Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts has won the Bronko Nagurski Award given to the nation’s top defensive player. The award is presented by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Watts has an FBS-leading seven interceptions this season for the Fighting Irish, along with 47 tackles.
Other finalists for the award: Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, Georgia safety Malaki Starks and North Carolina State linebacker
Payton Wilson.
New Mexico hires Mendenhall: The school on Wednesday hired former BYU and Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall to fill its coaching vacancy.
Mendenhall, 57, compiled a 135-81 record in 17 seasons as the head coach of the Cougars (2005-15) and the Cavaliers (201621). He led BYU to 11 straight bowl games and took Virginia to three in a row, including the Orange Bowl during the 2019 season. His teams were 7-7 in bowl games.
New Mexico fired head coach Danny Gonzales last month after he compiled an 11-32 record in four seasons.
NBA TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
Two games Thursday night: The Indiana
Pacers’ improbable run through the inaugural
NBA in-season tournament continues Thursday night when they attempt to take down the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the Milwaukee Bucks, in the semifinals at Las Vegas. The game will start at 5 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
The New Orleans Pelicans will face the Los Angeles Lakers in the
West semifinal at 9 p.m. (TNT), with the two winners advancing to the tournament final Saturday night.
The Bucks advanced to the semifinals with a 146122 win over the New
York Knicks on Tuesday night in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo (35) and Damian Lillard (28) combined for 63 points in the victory.
The Lakers advanced with a 106-103 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. LeBron James scored 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter. He finished with 11 assists, eight rebounds and five steals.
Kevin Durant scored 31 points for the Suns but badly missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
One of the NHL’s highest scoring teams will add a future Hall of Fame forward to its lineup on Thursday.
KANE TO DEBUT WITH RED WINGS
One of the NHL’s highest-scoring teams will add a future Hall of Fame forward to its lineup on Thursday.
Patrick Kane, who has scored 451 goals during his 16-season career, signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 29. He will make his season debut against the visiting San Jose Sharks, coach Derek Lalonde confirmed Wednesday.
Kane underwent hipresurfacing surgery in June.