Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young was ejected in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s play-in game against the Orlando Magic after he picked up two technical fouls in quick succession.

The game was essentially out of reach when Young received his first tech after he made an impressive floater with 4:48 to go in the fourth quarter, cutting the Hawks’ deficit to 20 points.

He quickly fired the ball toward crew chief James Williams, who apparently didn’t take kindly to the move. He T’d Young up immediately. Williams then bounced the ball down the court toward the Magic’s end, but Young stepped in and lightly knocked the ball out of bounds with his feet then kept it away from another ref. He received a second technical foul for the act, drawing an automatic ejection.

The Hawks lost 120-95 and will have to defeat the winner of Wednesday’s Heat-Bulls game to make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. That game will take place in Atlanta on Friday. The winner will play the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

The Magic secured the No. 7 seed in the East with the win and will face the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the first round.

Why Trae Young was ejected

Williams said Young received his second technical foul ‘for kicking the ball away and making a mockery of the game as we were attempting to shoot the free throw for the first technical foul.’

Trae Young Play-In Tournament stats

Young finished with a team-high 28 points on 8-for-21 shooting, including a 1-for-5 mark from 3. He did hit 11 of his 12 free throws and added six assists.

This story has been updated with new information.

Abad Viquez first set eyes on Derrick Rose as a second grader in Chicago. The Bulls’ then-No. 1 overall draft pick was captured in posters on his teacher’s wall.

It was one of those childhood moments that become etched in our minds. For Viquez, it was the one that set him along a narrative that would push against everything that tried to hold him back.

“I have a disability,” says Viquez, 23, now known as Shorty’A to the tens of thousands he reaches on social media. “It was hard for me to fit in, which is why I looked up to Derrick Rose. Everyone was talking about him, and I didn’t even know who he was. So just watching the game and learning about it helped me connect with my peers and many people down the road.”

Two years later, at 22, Rose was named the youngest MVP in NBA history for the 2010-12 season. He had soared to heights Bulls fans hadn’t seen since … well, you know.

But the rest of Rose’s story, filled with pain but also perseverance, is what led ‘Shorty’A’ to share sound bites, opinions and other tidbits of a life spent overcoming his own obstacles.

“I fell in love with him, and now basketball is a passion,” Viquez tells USA TODAY Sports. “It helped me get to a place that I didn’t think I was gonna make it to.”

Viquez, who was born without a tailbone, has a rare medical condition known as Sacral Agenesis that has affected his growth.

“Doctors told my parents I had less than six months to live,” he says.

Today, you might see him post to his 50,000-plus followers on TikTok as his Bulls try to make it out of the NBA Play-In-Tournament. One of his videos won an AT&T contest and connected him with NBA superstars at the All-Star Game in February.

His is still chasing his ultimate goal.

“I can’t think of anyone in the NBA that has a disability that’s a broadcaster, so I hope to be one of the first ones,” he says. “I want to be able to inspire the next generation of kids and let them know that anything is possible despite their disability.”

He spoke with us about how sports can spur big dreams and why we don’t have to be accomplished athletes to go after a career in them.

‘Show the entire world what you can give them’

“Every time I went to the doctor, he told me that Abad was not going to make it,” his mother, Rebeca Viquez, told the Chicago Sun-Times Times in 2019. “And he’s like, ‘It will be a miracle if he does.’”

She has been there with him, her son says, through every exhilarating high and excruciating low: the first steps and words at age 4, the first shots on the hoop at 8, the 23 surgeries he has endured in his life and the ruthless way some kids have treated him.

At one point, he says, he didn’t have the confidence to tell his mom everything that was going on at school.

“My mom was always stressed out,” he says. “In fifth grade, there was an incident that happened, and it changed my perspective in life. That was the time where I was going through suicidal thoughts, and I really didn’t even tell my mom about it until that one incident that happened. So I ended up telling my mom, and from there, we built a bond and a relationship, and we just connected in so many different ways.”

Rebeca Viquez, a Spanish teacher who knew how cruel kids can be at school, told her son he could cry and feel sorry for himself, “or you just show the entire world what you can give them.”

Live for the moment, not the result

The healing traces back to Rose, too. He tore his ACL in his first game of the 2012 NBA playoffs. He missed the next season and endured what seemed like an endless array of injuries that would dog his career.

Many would say Rose didn’t live up to his potential. But a young fan in Chicago saw him come back, time after time, to drive hard down the lane, be tough at the rim and take the game-winning shot.

“I went through a lot of bullying,” Abad Viquez says, “and on top of (that) having to go to school, having to go to a surgery, and then having to go to physical therapy. So it was just a lot for me mentally and physically.

“Just seeing Derrick Rose just inspired me to keep on going and motivate myself. Just looking at the videos of him training and getting back into shape and gaining all the strength back that he lost, it just motivated me to do the same.”

Basketball became his therapy as he shot on his backyard court, or he watched his Rose. Rose even sunk one to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and his sister’s favorite player. Frida Viquez, 21, loves LeBron James.

“I never really liked LeBron growing up, because my sister and I always argued,” he says. “I mean, we’ve seen it how many times he’s been to the Finals, how many times he beat the Bulls. So I got tired of him just winning, winning, winning. I’m still stressing over the Chicago Bulls.’

But sitting in front of a mountain of team memorabilia during our Zoom call, he smiled at the thought of Rose’s career.

“Unfortunately,” he said, “I don’t have the hops like him.’

The birth of ‘Shorty’A’

Viquez could move fast, though, in his power wheelchair. When he got to high school, kids started calling him names like, “Speedy,” “Speedy Gonzalez” and “Turbo.’ He liked them.

“But it was just so many different nicknames,” he says. “And I was like, ‘What is one nickname that I could go by?’”

His mind drifted back to elementary school, when kids would make fun of his height.

‘I was always the shortest one in the room,’ he says. ‘So I was like, ‘Back then, it used to bother me, but not much anymore.’ ‘

Viquez put ‘Shorty’A’ on his Instagram account, which he started in 2019 to post his his trick shots. His first video was reposted by Overtime Sports, and it went viral.

The next year, he says, Overtime posted a video of him on TikTok, and it got more than 4 million views.

“I didn’t have TikTok because I thought it was only just for dancing,” he says. “So I then downloaded TikTok and started posting all of my trick shots videos and people were recognizing me from the video that Overtime reposted. From there I was posting consistently and my followers and views were growing and growing.

‘Heading into college, I didn’t tell anyone about my nickname, but as soon as they followed me, they were like, ‘Oh my God, you’re Shorty’A.’ ‘

It’s a lesson he learned from Rose: Keep putting yourself out there.

COACH STEVE: WNBA stars Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson show everyone can use a mentor

How a round ball can create a new life

Viquez graduated in 2024 with a major in journalism and minor in sports communication from Columbia College in Chicago.

While he looks for a job, he helps design and sell merchandise — hoodies, shirts, pins, phone cases, bags — through his own brand, YDDDY (‘Your Disability Doesn’t Define You’). He donates proceeds to a charity called Free Wheelchair Mission.

He’s filling up TikTok with clips, which include his broadcasting highlights.

He reached out to SeatGeek when he hit 30,000 followers, and the ticket sales website started sponsoring his commercials.

He submitted a prize-winning entry for AT&T’s NBA Dreams experience contest and invited his mom, sister and a cousin to sit with him at the All-Star festivities in San Francisco. When they arrived at Chase Center, they received an invitation to watch courtside from MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

‘I showed my sister that email, and I was like, ‘I think I just won,” he says. ‘And she was like, ‘Nah, this gotta be fake.’ And then I was looking at the people that were CCed into the email, and their email literally ends with AT&T.com. So I reached back out, and the rest is history.’

Along the way, Gilgeous-Alexander learned of his goal to become a sportscaster.

‘Sports play such an important role in connecting people,’ he said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. ‘I’m glad we could make it happen.’

It was likely a close No. 2 to the January day Viquez walked into a pop-up “flower shop” in downtown Chicago. He was freezing, having waited in line for four hours in 20-degree weather.

Then he saw Rose standing in front of him. A Chicago native, he was giving away free flowers to fans as part of a farewell celebration to end his career. It lasted 15 years.

‘I almost cried in front of him,’ Viquez says. ‘When I met him, I just started to thank him for everything that he’s done for me.’

Viquez asked for a signed jersey.

‘He said he wasn’t allowed to autograph stuff for his fans, but he would do it just for me,’ he says. ‘Once I got in the car, I just started to break down and I was crying.’

He had never seen Michael Jordan play, or the Bulls reach the NBA Finals. But he had seen Rose. That was more than enough.

‘A round ball helped me in many different ways,’ he says. ‘I never thought that I would have over 50,000 followers on TikTok, and it’s all to thanks to Derrick Rose.

‘He changed my life.’

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

There was an injury to a star player, a 20-point deficit erased and a masterclass fourth quarter from Stephen Curry.

The Golden State Warriors outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night in the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament to secure the No. 7 seed and a date with the No. 2 Houston Rockets in the first round of the postseason.

In the 121-116 victory, newly-acquired Warriors forward Jimmy Butler led all players with 38 points, though Curry wasn’t far behind, pouring in 15 of his 37 points in the final period. Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant suffered a tweaked ankle midway through the third quarter but returned, scoring 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting.

On Friday, in the final game of the play-in, Memphis will face the winner of Wednesday’s Kings-Mavericks game to determine the No. 8 seed in the West.

In Tuesday’s other game, the Magic rolled over the Hawks.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday night’s Warriors-Grizzlies play-in game:

‘Playoff’ Jimmy Butler affirms Warriors’ decision to make deal

When the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, they were 11th in the Western Conference. Now, they have clinched the No. 7 seed, gone 24-8 since making the deal and look like a team that could be a threat to upset Houston.

What the Rockets lack in experience, the Warriors have in abundance. And though Curry scored 15 of Golden State’s final 19 points in the game, including a trio of dagger 3 pointers, it was Butler who took on ball handling and distribution late in the game. And it was Butler who helped spark massive runs during the minutes when Curry was on the bench.

Butler has helped the Warriors improve in most major metrics, and his ability to attack and get to the free throw line — he was 12-of-18 Tuesday night — is essential in the playoffs.

And, if there’s one player who understands how to will a team to massive postseason upsets, it’s Butler, who carried the Heat two seasons ago from a Play-In eight seed to an NBA Finals appearance.

Yes, Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry are stars, but role players need to step up

The good news for Golden State is that all eight players not named Curry and Butler scored. The bad news is they didn’t do it very much. The team’s third-leading scorer Tuesday was backup point guard Gary Payton II, whom the Grizzlies were essentially daring to shoot.

He would finish with 12 points, and backup center Quinten Post would add 11. But Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski — a pair of starters — Buddy Hield, Kevon Looney and Gui Santon each converted just one field goal apiece, combining to go 5-for-21 (23.8%) from the floor.

Curry and Butler are the stars. That’s undeniable. But it’s also unsustainable and, frankly, foolish to expect Golden State to make a run while depending so heavily on two players. It also begs the question of why coach Steve Kerr has essentially removed forward Jonathan Kuminga, a gifted if inconsistent scorer who averaged 15.3 points per game this season, from the rotation; Kuminga did not record a single minute Tuesday or in Golden State’s overtime season finale loss against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Turnovers remain fatal for Grizzlies

Memphis started hot, building a quick nine-point lead minutes into the game. Then, the primary issue that has faced the Grizzlies all season — turnovers — spoiled their offensive rhythm. The Warriors launched a crushing, 29-7 run midway through the first quarter that was fed by seven Memphis giveaways.

Things snowballed from there, as Golden State found comfort and confidence, lacing nine of its first 20 attempted 3s (45%) through 20 minutes of play.

The Grizzlies committed 19 turnovers overall, leading to a 27-12 Warriors advantage in points off giveaways. None was more consequential than a sloppy Morant pass that came with Memphis down 111-109 with just more than two minutes left: Morant tried to find a streaking Zach Edey in the paint, and the turnover led to a Curry triple on the other end, a potential five-point swing.

The Grizzlies have plenty of talent to top the winner of the Kings-Mavericks play-in game Friday night. That would set up a showdown against the best defensive team in the NBA, the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder — a team that led the NBA in turnovers forced per game (17).

Just as they were getting hot, the Memphis Grizzlies suffered what could be a massive setback.

With 4:25 left to play in the third quarter of Tuesday night’s Play-In Tournament game against the Golden State Warriors, star point guard Ja Morant landed awkwardly on the foot of Warriors guard Buddy Hield, forcing Morant’s right foot to tweak.

While he later returned in the 121-116 loss, his status for Friday’s win-or-go-home game is unclear.

Morant lay on the court for several minutes as medical staff tended to the injured ankle. Morant, who made the shot attempt he took when he sustained the injury, appeared to be in clear discomfort. He would hobble to the bench where trainers continued to look at the injured ankle.

Morant would eventually limp to the line and sink the free throw that resulted from the foul called on Warriors center Quinten Post.

If an injured player is not able to shoot a free throw, he must be removed from the game.

Trainers would continue to look at Morant’s ankle for several minutes. He had scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting before sustaining the injury. He finished with 22.

The Grizzlies had been steadily erasing a 20-point Warriors lead before Morant got hurt. Memphis continued to respond in his absence; the Warriors held a 94-91 lead at the end of the quarter.

With 9:26 left in the game and the score tied at 96, Morant returned, notably favoring the ankle. He wasted no time continuing to impact the game, sinking his first attempt, a mid-range shot from the left elbow.

Morant has made headlines recently for his on-court celebrations. The NBA fined him after he held his hand up in a finger-gun gesture, and during the next game he pretended to throw a grenade after scoring.

The NBA fined Morant $75,000 for his finger-gun gesture, which the league called ‘inappropriate,’ in an April 3 game against the Miami Heat after the two-time All-Star had been warned for using the same gesture in a contest against the Warriors.

(This story was updated to include new details).

NEW YORK — Juan Soto isn’t off to a blazing-hot start with the New York Mets, but if he’s feeling out of sorts – well, Aaron Judge has a friendly tip.

“He can look at what I did last April, for kind of an example of (how) he just needs to keep being himself,’’ said the New York Yankees’ captain of his sluggish 2024 start. “He’s going to be just fine.

Soto is still getting on base at a .400 clip, though his production numbers – two homers, six RBI – have drawn notice through 16 games after signing a $765 million free-agent deal with the Mets.

Last year, his lone pinstriped season, Soto finished third in the AL MVP award voting, batting directly ahead of Judge, the league’s MVP.

Speaking with the New York Post’s Mike Puma, Soto said “it’s definitely different’’ the way he’s been pitched so far in 2025.

‘I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me. I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone, less intentional walks and things like that,’ Soto said.

Made aware of Soto’s comments to the Post, Judge referenced Pete Alonso’s start, batting .345 with a 1.137 OPS while hitting right after Soto.

“He’s got probably one of the best hitters in the game behind him right now with what Alonso is doing. It’s been fun to watch,’’ said Judge. “He’s hitting close to .400 and driving the ball all over the field, driving guys in. So, they’re going to be just fine.’’

That’s how it turned out for Judge in 2024, after taking a .197 batting average and .725 OPS into May, with just six homers and 18 RBI over his first 33 games.

Entering Tuesday night’s game against the Royals, Judge was batting .367 with six homers, 20 RBI, and a 1.212 OPS in his first 16 games.

These days, Judge finds himself mostly batting between the hot-hitting Ben Rice and the accomplished Cody Bellinger, part of an offense that led the majors in home runs (32) and OPS (.844) so far.

“You can’t replace a guy like Soto. He’s one of one. That’s why he signed the deal he did,’’ said Judge, who then praised the rapid gains made by Rice and the acquisitions of Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt as key developments in the Yanks’ Soto-less 2025 lineup.

“This is a big year for a lot of our young guys to step up and do something big and kind of help carry this team,’’ said Judge, adding that, “we’ve just got a really, really complete team right now.’’

The first domino in the 2025 NBA Play-In Tournament fell, and the Orlando Magic are through to the postseason.

The Magic topped the Hawks on Tuesday night, 120-95, to clinch their spot as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, setting up a showdown in the first round of the playoffs against the No. 2 Boston Celtics ‒ the reigning champions.

Paolo Banchero struggled from the floor and was Orlando’s third-leading scorer with 17 points on 4-of-13 shooting. Hawks guard Trae Young poured in 28 points and six assists, but was ejected late in the fourth after he became frustrated with Orlando’s physicality.

Atlanta will face the winner of Wednesday night’s game between the No. 9 Chicago Bulls and No. 10 Miami Heat to determine the eighth seed in the East.

The Golden State Warriors edged the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in Tuesday’s nightcap to decide the No. 7 seed in the West. Memphis star guard Ja Morant hurt his right ankle in the third quarter, but returned. His status for Friday’s matchup is unclear.

Here are three takeaways from Tuesday night’s Magic-Hawks play-in game:

The Magic can grind opponents down. They won’t outscore the Celtics.

Tuesday was a perfect encapsulation of this Orlando team. Its defensive length can deflect passes, clog lanes and swat shots. The Magic slow even the quickest teams in transition; the Hawks, who ranked third in the NBA in pace, scored just two fast break points in the first half and four overall.

Orlando, however, is a poor shooting team, particularly from 3-point range. In the regular season, the Magic ranked last in made 3s (11.2 per game) and percentage (31.8%). Against Atlanta, when the Hawks doubled Banchero in the first half, he found teammates for six dimes, five of which came in the first quarter. When those teammates went cold in the third, the Hawks crept back in the game.

Against an ignitable Celtics team that ranked second in the league in points per 100 possessions (119.5), that simply won’t be good enough.

Orlando’s bench was essential. Is its play sustainable?

Led by backup point guard Cole Anthony (26 points), the Magic bench erupted for 57 points Tuesday night. Orlando’s starters combined to shoot 3-of-22 (13.6%) from beyond the arc. Orlando’s bench players combined to go 8-of-17 (47.1%). During a game when Banchero and forward Franz Wagner combined to score just 30 points, Orlando’s bench play was crucial. Against Boston, the Magic will need more scoring from Banchero and Wagner, regardless. But for Orlando to have any shot against Boston, it will need Anthony or Anthony Black (16 points) or Jonathan Isaac (six points and eight rebounds) to contribute.

The Hawks will need much more from No. 1 overall rookie Zaccharie Risacher.

In games No. 1 overall rookie Zaccharie Risacher has played since the beginning of March, he’s averaging 9.9 points in Atlanta’s nine losses. In the team’s 13 victories over that span, Risacher is averaging 18.4 points. Tuesday night, he scored just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting, including just 1-of-5 from 3. Otherwise, he contributed just a pair of rebounds.

Simply put: the Hawks needed more from Risacher on Tuesday, and they’ll need more from him Friday night against the Bulls or Heat. That’s only magnified when Atlanta plays a team that can frustrate Young, who was ejected late.

What exactly constitutes an NFL draft sleeper in 2025?

Satisfying the label is exceedingly difficult. Prospects who once received minimal media attention now are thoroughly examined in the pre-draft process, leaving few to truly fly under the radar. And the depth of the individual classes has also shifted radically in recent years amid a new era of Name, Image and Likeness rules, with this year’s 70 early declarations representing just more than half of the total from 2021.

But without fail, the draft has continued to produce players who quickly defy their draft stock by making massive early contributions, with fourth-round Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still emerging as the latest Day 3 picks to make an instant mark.

With the draft about a week away, here’s our look at 14 potential sleepers in this year’s class:

RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona

Having played in just one game last season due to eligibility issues and then being snubbed for the NFL Scouting Combine, Croskey-Merritt has been somewhat overlooked in the last six months. But the Alcorn State and New Mexico transfer showed off as one of the biggest standouts at the East-West Shrine Bowl, and his stellar Big 12 Pro Day numbers – a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and 41 1/2-inch vertical leap – underscored his explosiveness. The 5-10, 206-pound slasher can change direction in an instant, and his combination of elusiveness and strength make him exceedingly difficult to bring down at the second level. There’s a missing element of reliability to his game, with a sense of chaos to his pass protection, ball security and running style. But his knack for operating in tight quarters should translate well to the NFL.

RB Jaydon Blue, Texas

Unearthing gems in the middle to later portions of the draft is often a matter of finding players with a superpower. Blue has one: his speed. The 5-9, 196-pound ball carrier can outrace an entire defense once he gets to the perimeter, and his confident cuts can punish anyone who overcommits. Blue’s effectiveness wanes when he’s forced to work inside, but his big-play ability as both as a runner and receiver could make him an optimal third-down and change-of-pace back.

WR Dont’e Thornton Jr., Tennessee

It’s easy to understand the appeal of a 6-5, 205-pound target who led the Football Bowl Subdivision with 25.4 yards per catch last season. Tennessee’s scheme undoubtedly juiced some of his numbers, but Thornton dusted some of college football’s best defenses when defensive backs didn’t properly respect his deep speed. He likely will be pigeonholed as a vertical-only weapon until he can demonstrate more nuance and precision in his route running, but he’ll be a draw for any team looking to strengthen its downfield aerial attack.

WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas

A former high school quarterback and Division II standout at Hillsdale College before transferring to Arkansas in 2023, TeSlaa might be one of this draft’s ultimate developmental players. At 6-4 and 214 pounds, he creates mismatches as a downfield threat who can be trusted to pluck passes away from his body and in contested-catch scenarios. But trouble with his releases and creating separation could keep him in the big slot role he’s accustomed to, unless he learns how to beat press coverage consistently and shake defenders underneath. Yet a patient approach to his development could yield a massive payoff for a team willing to cater to his strengths.

OT Logan Brown, Kansas

The former five-star recruit came along slowly at Wisconsin before being dismissed in 2022 for an unspecified ‘internal incident.’ After missing most of the following season at Kansas due to a leg injury, he revived his career last season with a strong performance at right tackle for the Jayhawks. A smooth mover at 6-6 and 311 pounds, he’s the rare middle-round prospect who could actually hang in pass protection against NFL speed rushers while still having more than enough strength to hold up at the point of attack. But he also comes with many of the technique issues one would expect from a one-year starter, with his leverage and oversetting problems proving particularly problematic.

DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon

Though Derrick Harmon was the breakout star of the Ducks’ defensive line in 2024, Caldwell did plenty to help himself by creating opportunities for others. The 6-2, 332-pounder commands the line of scrimmage by demanding double teams and not letting up in his rush. But he’s more nimble than many space-eaters up front, giving him potential to disrupt the passing game by more than merely pushing the pocket. While Caldwell might never be a supreme splash player and should learn to better balance his aggression with proper control, he can be a force for the right scheme.

DE Bradyn Swinson, LSU

This might be testing the definition of the term sleeper, as Swinson could be ticketed for a spot on Day 2. But a position that seldom produces high-end starters past the first two rounds – Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson notwithstanding – requires some recalibrating when identifying potential under-the-radar breakout players. Speedy and pliable, Swinson is more dynamic off the edge than many pass rushers expected to be selected earlier in the draft. If he can bulk up and more consistently shed blocks, the 6-4, 255-pounder could be one of the most disruptive players taken after the first round.

DE/OLB David Walker, Central Arkansas

There aren’t many pass rushers more prolific than Walker, who posted 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss in three seasons at Central Arkansas after transferring from Southern Arkansas. But is that production indicative of what he can achieve against much more formidable competition? The 6-1, 263-pounder is accustomed to walking back blockers who simply can’t stand their ground against him. While his bull rush might not prove as lethal as it did in college, Walker is still powerful enough to jolt linemen, using his atypical build for the position to win leverage battles. Replicating his stat-stuffing efforts at the next level is likely out of reach, but he can still generate pressure and be the kind of matchup opposing offenses hate to take on.

LB Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia

It might seem difficult to fly under the radar as a three-year starter for the most dominant defense – and program – of that stretch. Mondon, however, never received the top billing that many of his former Georgia teammates did. Nagging injuries and inconsistency in diagnosing plays kept the former five-star recruit from fully flourishing in Athens. But as a 6-2, 224-pound linebacker with the fluidity to match up in coverage and the range to make plays in the backfield, he has rare versatility as a mid-round prospect.

LB Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State

As a true freshman in 2021, Oliver broke out in a major way with 11 1/2 sacks. But he never built on that high or even recaptured it, and he only played in two games last season before being sidelined with a foot injury. The dreaded tweener label seems bound to follow the 6-2, 240-pounder, but he has the requisite explosiveness and fluidity to thrive as a pass rusher. His subpar size and strength, however, might relegate him to a designated pass rusher role. Yet that’s work Oliver has shown he can handle, so he might be able to provide substantial returns in key spots.

LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State

It might seem odd to have two selections on this list from a team that ranked second to last in the FBS with more than 500 yards allowed per game. But like Oliver, Martin shouldn’t have his pro potential defined by the shortcomings that surrounded him. Undersized at 6-0 and 221 pounds, he compensates for his build by rallying to the ball in a hurry – look no further than 2023, when he was able to catch up to former Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy and trip up the future 40-yard dash record-setter. Bigger and stronger blockers can wash him out of plays with relative ease, but Martin offers plenty as a downhill playmaker with significant upside in coverage.

CB Tommi Hill, Nebraska

A foot injury derailed Hill’s final season in Nebraska and makes him a bit of a tricky evaluation. At 6-1 and 213 pounds with the long speed to stick with receivers downfield, he has a rare blend of physical tools that will allow him to match up well with taller targets. But his safety-like makeup can also be his undoing at times, as a lack of suddenness threatens to leave him with limited opportunities to close in on passes despite his sound ball skills. Honing his technique and staying away from matchups against shiftier wideouts could go a long way toward setting the former receiver up for success.

CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky

Through the pre-draft process, Stout has evoked comparisons to former Louisiana Tech standout Amik Robertson and even likened himself to the current Detroit Lions cornerback – and with good reason. Despite standing just 5-9 and 181 pounds, the cornerback operates with a fearless abandon, rocketing to the catch point or ball carrier. Though he could pose a risk if left to cover bigger receivers downfield, Stout could be a sparkplug as a nickel who helps shut down short-area targets.

S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma

At 5-10 and 192 pounds, Bowman almost operates as a cornerback on the back end – for better and worse. On one hand, his coverage credentials are unimpeachable, as he notched 11 interceptions in the last three seasons and is comfortable handling almost any assignment. His size, however, also looms as a significant problem in the NFL, where he could be bullied by bigger receivers who can exploit the matchup in jump-ball scenarios. But if he can clean up some wild tendencies as a tackler, Bowman can be a staple of a secondary as a savvy presence with extensive range.